#NERevs96: The First Win
- Updated: April 20, 2016
(Editor’s note: To commemorate the Revolution’s first season – which also happened to be the inaugural year of MLS play – NESoccerToday.com will be posting a brief snapshot of each of the club’s first 32 games on its respective 20th anniversary. Today, we look back at the first win in club history.)
April 20, 1996
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Revolution tasted victory for the first time in club history on Saturday thanks to a late Nicola Caricola own goal that allowed the locals to claim a 1-0 win over the NY/NJ MetroStars in front of 46,826 at Giants Stadium.
With a scoreless match only seconds away from going to a shootout, Caricola inexplicably chipped a Darren Sawatzky cross over a flat-footed keeper Tony Meola before it settled into the back of the net in the 89th minute.
Reserve goalkeeper Aidan Heaney, who started in place of a suspended Jim St. Andre, registered eight saves to record the first clean sheet in club history. St. Andre’s ban stemmed from his 89th minute red card in Tampa Bay during the season opener.
Revolution defender Michael Burns picked up his second caution of the young season in the 78th minute.
Riding the high of their first win, the Revolution will make their home debut on Saturday at Foxboro Stadium against DC United.
Matchday program:
Roster/club news: Prior to Saturday’s match, the Revolution placed forward Marquis White on waivers.
Out of town scores for Apr. 20, 1996:
DC United 1, Los Angeles 2
Columbus 1, Tampa Bay 2
American soccer news: Dallas Burn forward John Kerr’s two goals and one assist put him at the top of the MLS scoring charts through the first two weeks of the 1996 season…Kerr’s teammate, Mark Dodd, leads the league with 18 saves through Burn’s first three games…Kansas City Wiz midfielder Samuel Ekeme’s three cautions in three games are tops in MLS…The U.S. Women’s National Team claims a 6-0 win over the Netherlands in Fullerton, Calif. on goals Tisha Venturini (2), Kristine Lilly (2), Michelle Akers, and Julie Foudy…
What’s going on? The Menendez Brothers are sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after they were found guilty of murdering their parents…Famous sports oddsmaker Jimmy the Greek dies at age 77…Nynex and Bell Atlantic orchestrate the largest U.S. corporate merger to date in a deal worth $22 billion…
What we’re watching: Seinfeld is atop the Nielsen Ratings for the week of Apr. 15 with a 17.2 rating. ER (15.9) and Friends (14.7) are second and third, respectively…Celtic Pride and The Substitute are both released in theaters the day before MetroStars-Revolution…Following the Revolution’s first win in club history, Teri Hatcher hosts Saturday Night Live with Dave Matthews Band featured as the musical guest…
What we’re listening to: “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis and “In The Meantime” by Spacehog are among the top rock tracks on the radio…”Nobody Knows” by Tony Rich Project and “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey are both sneaking up on Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me,” which is holding the #1 spot on the Top 40 chart…
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