Contributed by Steven Torres
Soccer Long Island Magazine continues its weekly feature as it looks back at some historical events/games, both on and off the field, from the region of North, Central America and Caribbean.
In this week’s edition you have: Trinidad & Tobago capturing inaugural Caribbean Cup in 1989; Mexico’s Zaque scoring record 7 goals at ‘93 Gold Cup; Guatemala’s CSD Xelaju MC forced playoff match against Racing Club Haitien during ’63 Champions’ Cup
July 9,1989: Trinidad & Tobago captured the inaugural Caribbean Cup after defeating Grenada, 2:1, in the final held at National Stadium in Bridgetown, Barbados. Dwight Yorke scored both goals (24th, 89th) for the Soca Warriors, while Wayne Hood (84th) had the only tally for the Spice Boyz.
July 10,1999: A record crowd of 90,185 saw Brandi Chastain notch the game-winning penalty kick as hosts United States defeated China, 5:4, after a scoreless 120 minutes of play in the FIFA Women's World Cup Final held at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The victory gave the Stars & Stripes its first world title since the inaugural FIFA tournament in 1991.
July 11, 1993: Luis Roberto Alves (known as "Zague") scored a record 7 goals to lead hosts Mexico to a 9:0 win over Martinique in a Group B encounter of Concacaf Gold Cup in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, before crowd of 48,000.
July 12, 1987: Canada became the first North American nation to host a FIFA Under-16 (now U-17) Men’s World Cup as it opened the event with a 3:0 loss to Italy at Toronto's Varsity Stadium.
July 13, 1947: Adalberto Lopez posted a hat-trick (three goals), while Rodrigo Ruiz and Angel Segura each added a goal for Mexico in a 5:0 win over U.S. in the first match of the inaugural North American Football Confederation Championship at La Tropical Stadium in Havana, Cuba.
July 14, 1963: Rufino Lopez scored twice & Sergio Anaya added another for CSD Xelaju MC as it defeated visiting Racing Club Haitien, 3:1, in the 2nd leg of Concacaf Champions’ Cup Second Round at Mateo Flores Stadium in Guatemala City. The hosts even the series and forced a 3rd game playoff after the Haitian club won the 1st leg a week earlier.
July 15, 1952: John Best of U.S. became the first North American Referee to officiate on opening match day of Men’s Olympic Football Tournament. Best oversaw Yugoslavia – India encounter (won by Europeans 10:1) during the preliminary round held at Töölön Pallokenttä Stadium in Helsinki, Finland.
Written by Steven Torres