because I believe love is more important than anything we can take from life, because everything else passes -- to say with me three times: Love! Love! Love!" At the conclusion of the game in the pouring rain, Pele ran around the field holding a Brazilian flag in one hand and a U.S. flag in the other, waving to the crowd. He was joined by players from both teams as they lifted him on their shoulders to complete the lap.
3. Breaking another ceiling (1999)
Many soccer observers credit to the first Women's World Cup match at the stadium for for helping ignite the interest in this international competition. A crowd of 78,972, up until then the largest crowd to watch a women's sporting event, jammed the stadium to watch the U.S. defeat Denmark in the WWC opener. Not surprisingly, Mia Hamm scored one goal and set up another (Julie Foudy and Kristine Lilly also found the back of the net) as the USA started their historic journey for women's sports en route to international glory on June 19, 1999. The July 10 final at the Rose Bowl attracted a world record crowd of 90,185 as the U.S. managed to get past China in a shootout.
4. Let's play two (1996)
In one of the most unique soccer doubleheaders you could find, the first MLS All-Star Game was packaged with a match involving the FIFA World All-Stars and the Brazilian Olympic team before a then stadium record crowd of 78,416 on July 14, 1996. In the opener, MLS All-Star MVP and former Colombian international Carlos Valderrama led the Eastern Conference to a 3-2 win against its Western Conference counterparts in a game that turned into an attacking highlight reel. "Winning and losing was not important here today," Eastern coach Thomas Rongen said. "The winners were MLS, the players and the fans, who saw a great game." Make that two great games. In the nightcap, Brazil, which boasted a young Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, defeated the World All-Stars 2-1. Roberto Carlos scored the game winner after Bebeto tallied for the Brazilians in their final tuneup prior to the Atlanta Summer Olympics, and Argentinean Fernando Redondo for the FIFA All-Stars. Mexican international goalkeeper Jorge Campos, then a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, wound up playing in both ends of the twinbill.
5. House of David (2007)
You could not have written a better scenario or ending to match when David Beckham made his first MLS appearance there with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Aug. 18, 2007. The Red Bulls' wild, crazy and entertaining 5-4 victory had a little bit of everything, from momentum switches and lead swings to spectacular goals to late-match heroics. Beckham lived up to his end of the bargain, setting up three goals, including two within an amazing two-minute span early on. But then again, so did Juan Pablo Angel. Angel finished it with a spectacular score from a severe angle from the right side to break a 4-4 tie in the 88th minute before a Red Bull record crowd of 66,237. "If you're at this level and you don't enjoy playing in front of that many people, then what are you playing the sport for," Red Bulls midfielder Clint Mathis said. "You have to get pumped up for a game like this. But you hope that every game is like this one." Added Beckham: "I haven't been involved in a game like that since I was 9 or 10 years old, where there were so many goals and the change of play changes in 90 minutes."
6. Italy-Ireland (1994)
Seven World Cup games were played at the stadium. While some observers might list Italy's 2-1 semifinal win over Bulgaria as the best of the lot, that could not match the intensity of the crowd because of the local rivalry between the two ethnic groups in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. The crowd was decidedly pro-Irish -- about two-thirds -- as their heroes prevailed 1-0, on a Ray Houghton goal before 75,338. There was talk that the Italians decided to sell their tickets to Ireland fans, make a profit and watch the game on TV.
7. The world comes to Jersey (1982)
Rarely has the world seen this much star power in one game. Imagine the likes of Michel Platini, Diego Maradona, Paolo Rossi, Dino Zoff, Zbigniew Boniek, Daniel Passarella and Franz Beckenbauer, among others, on the same field for 90 minutes. The 76,891 who attended the 1982 FIFA charity match for UNICEF on Aug. 7, 1982 did not have to use their imagination. They were mesmerized by the skill and flair. What was the final score? Well, does it matter? For the record, it was Europe 3, the Rest of the World 2.
8. The curse of Nicola Caricola (1996)
Some 46,826 curious souls came to The Swamp to see what the MetroStars were all about in the very first year of MLS. Some 90 minutes later, they watched in horror as the MetroStars dropped their club home opener to the New England Revolution on an own goal by Italian central defender Nicola Caricola past goalkeeper Tony Meola with 11 seconds remaining in the match. At that time, MLS had a running clock and no stoppage time. So time ran out on the stunned MetroStars, who did not get an opportunity to equalize, let alone kick off. Some people say the team has been cursed by that first game and late own goal.
9. Little Azteca (2009)
Yes, that's what the stadium was nicknamed on Aug. 12, 2009 -- Little Azteca. A stadium record 79,156 spectators, mostly rooting for Mexico, witnessed their heroes roll to a 5-0 victory against the USA in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final behind five second-half goals in the last international match at the stadium. The Mexican win broke a 9-0-2 U.S. domination north of the border going back a decade, to a 2-1 Mexico win in San Diego on March 13, 1999. "We just lost our composure," U.S. forward Brian Ching said. "They punished us." Added U.S. coach Bob Bradley: "That's not what we're all about. We have to look hard at ourselves." It was the worst U.S. home loss since a 5-0 defeat to England in L.A. in 1985. The U.S. used its "B" team in this match, while the Mexicans had five regulars in their starting lineup. Deploying its "A" side in Mexico City in a World Cup qualifier on Aug. 12, the U.S. performed much better. They scored first, but dropped a 2-1 decision.
10. A little magic (2001)
Not every game needs a huge crowd to be memorable. Sometimes you need a little magic, which is what Clint Mathis brought to the field on April 28, 2001. He meandered through the Dallas Burn defense in the 60th minute to score in one of the most memorable goals in league history. The MetroStars won 3-2 before 17,543 spectators. Four days later, Mathis would amaze the Meadowlands faithful with another astounding performance: a hat trick, scoring off of both feet and his head. "Those goals don't happen too often," Mathis said. "You just got to cherish the moment." Indeed. Several weeks later, Mathis was sidelined for the season with an ACL tear.
The next time a Red Bulls or any MLS player will make magic in the N.Y./N.J. metro area will be at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. in 2010.
A personal note: It struck me the other day that I had the opportunity to cover the very first professional soccer at the stadium on April 17, 1977. The Cosmos defeated the Rochester Lancers 2-0 in front of 26,752. Pele and Giorgio Chinaglia scored goals for the home side. I was a young reporter for the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. On Saturday, certainly older and hopefully wiser, I will have the opportunity be at the same stadium for the final game and help turn off the lights, as they say, at least for soccer. They have that other football scheduled for The Swamp at least through December.
Michael Lewis covers soccer for the New York Daily News and is editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com. Views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
