Spain v. United States 1950 World Cup

Описание: Highlights from the United States’ opening match in the 1950 World Cup against Spain, June 25, 1950 at Vila Capanema in Curitiba, Brazil before 9,511 fans

This match was the U.S.'s first World Cup finals appearance since getting drubbed, 7-1, by Italy in the 1934 tournament

Contrary to popular belief, the American team was made up primarily of native-born players, drawn primarily from the semi-professional American Soccer League and St. Louis Major League. The side included Walt Bahr, Ed McIlvenny, Benny McLaughlin (Philadelphia Nationals), Harry Keough (St. Louis McMahon), Charlie Colombo, Gino Pariani, Frank Wallace, Frank Borghi, Robert Annis (St. Louis Simpkins Ford), John Souza and Ed Souza (Ponta Delgada of Fall River– no relation to each other), Joe Maca (Brooklyn Hispano), Joe Gaetjens (New York Brookhattan), Robert Craddock and Nick DiOrio (Pittsburgh’s Castle Shannon), Geoff Combes, Adam Wolanin and Gino Gard (Chicago Vikings)

McLaughlin had to withdraw from the team when he found he could not get time off from work to travel to Brazil

Penn State’s Bill Jeffrey was selected as coach just two weeks before the tournament when the New York Americans’ Ernö Schwarz declined the position

Not much was expected of this ragtag bunch, but their up-tempo, aggressive style of play found them shocking a heavily-touted Spain score by scoring first in the match, in the 17th minute. Contemporaneous press reports credited the Haitian-born Gaetjens with the goal, and the American Soccer History Archives credit John "Clarkie" Souza with the goal. Official FIFA records credit Gino Pariani with the score; unfortunately, as the available footage does not capture the U.S. goal, there is no way to definitively identify the scorer

The U.S. held this lead until there was 10 minutes left in the match. Unfortunately, a general lack of training and fitness caught up with the Yanks. In the 80th minute, Charlie Colombo hesitated when he thought the ball had gone out of bounds, allowing a Spanish player to cross. Spain’s Estanislao Basora received the cross for the equalizer. The US defense seemed to collapse after the goal and two minutes later Basora scored a second. Just before the final whistle, Spain scored another to beat the U.S., 3-1

If nothing else, the Americans surprising performance should have put their next opponent on notice. England did not pay heed, however; four days later, the it would pay the price