When Two Soccer Teams Had to Share a Championship

It’s one of the strangest outcomes in pro sports history. This week, we look back at the time the American Soccer League was forced to crown two co-champions in 1975. Plus, we revisit Rory McIlroy’s soccer injury, examine a USL Lego design, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• 🤕 Rory McIlroy’s Soccer Injury

• 🖼️ See you in DC!

• 🤝 When Two Soccer Teams Had to Share a Championship

• 👕 A Kit Like ‘96

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

POP CULTURE
Rory McIlroy’s Soccer Injury

Over the weekend, Rory McIlroy won the Masters at Augusta for the second year in a row, becoming the first golfer to repeat since Tiger Woods.

Of course, his win prompted me to dive into his personal history with soccer, and turns out that he’s a devoted Manchester United and soccer fan.

So much so that a few years ago, he put his golfing career at risk by playing pickup with his mates. Oops…

EVENTS
See you in DC!

Join us this Saturday night (04/18) in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the oldest-running sports competition in our country and dive into the underbelly of American soccer in all its glory!

RSVP for free HERE.

Here’s what you can expect from this event in collaboration with Nico Polo and Guerrilla FC:

🖼️ Open Cup Photo Gallery

⚽ Indoor Pickup Tourney (to be played on a makeshift court inside the venue)

🎙️ Guest Panel Discussion: Exploring the Unknown American Soccer Landscape (featuring Pablo Maurer, Diana Hernandez, and Justin Amatucci)

📘 Chance to see our latest collaboration project with Nico Polo and be one of the first to pick up one of the limited copies we’ll have available in person before pre-orders

🍔 Food & Drinks with the help of 7th Street Burger and Soul Mega

➡️ And More

COVER STORY
When Two Soccer Teams Had to Share a Championship

It was just past midnight on September 21, 1975, when American Soccer League Commissioner Bob Cousy (yes, the NBA legend) made one of the most shocking decisions in the history of soccer: declaring league co-champions.

That night, the New York Apollos and the Boston Astros had met at Mount Vernon’s Memorial Field to play in the championship game and determine an ASL winner for the season.

But what should’ve been a pretty straightforward affair ended up being the complete opposite.

Both teams were unable to break a 1-1 deadlock in regular time and played nine overtime periods.

It had been nearly 158 minutes of playing time when the referee was forced to stop the game because they’d gone over the city’s curfew.

Naturally, you think they would’ve just scheduled a replay, but the New York Apollos squashed that idea immediately, announcing that most of its players’ contracts expired at the conclusion of the match and would not be able to get a team together for a replay.

Everyone turned to the Commissioner for answers, and quite quickly, Bob Cousy made up his mind that both teams would share the championship. Unbelievable… an NBA icon-turned-soccer-commissioner deciding to have co-champions after the teams played nine overtime periods and broke curfew.

I can’t help but smile. Only in American soccer 😅

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Should be an interesting one. What would you do?

FASHION
A Kit Like ‘96

There probably isn’t a more appropriate American team to lean into nostalgia than the Charleston Battery.

After all, they’re the oldest continuously operating professional soccer club in the United States (est. 1993).

And last week, they launched an awesome retro kit inspired by the ones they wore back in 1996, when they won their first league title in the USISL Pro League.

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Dream Set: Never thought I’d see the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ iconic stadium in Lego version, yet here we are. So awesome!!

Gossip: Last week was filled with drama centered around Pulisic.

Allagash Kit: A collaboration we never knew we needed. Absolutely loving this one!

Logistics: Iran’s petition to shift its World Cup games to Mexico did not move forward. Here’s why…

Gaming: Check out the new NWSL kits in EAFC!

BUSINESS
Spurs Owe Money to San Antonio?

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said that she wants the Spurs owners “to pay” money they owe to the city of San Antonio and Bexar County after failing to acquire an MLS team.

San Antonio was close to landing an expansion franchise a few years back, but no deal materialized.

Now the Spurs owners may be on the hook for a substantial amount of money.

NUMBERS
A Cup and a Hat-Trick

The Kansas City Current secured the Teal Rising Cup over the weekend after defeating Palmeiras 6-1 in the final.

And as a really cool feat, Haley Hopkins became the first-ever player to score a hat trick inside CPKC Stadium.

Just too clinical in front of goal 🔥

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you: What place will the USMNT finish in their World Cup group? Here are some of your answers:

• “Well, they should at least finish ahead of Paraguay.” - B. Stedtler

• “I think this group has the capacity to finish first but also finish third and barely make it to the KO, so who knows 🤷🏻‍♂️” - Dario

In the poll, 61% of people said they expected the USMNT to finish third, while 27% said they expected the USMNT to finish second.

It’ll surely be a tough group, but I think the fact we’re playing at home should be a bit of a boost. I’m leaning second place (although I’m an optimist at heart, so take it with a grain of salt).

UP NEXT
Over to DC

Wrapped up our time in New York and will now be headed to DC for a wonderful day to celebrate the Open Cup!

Last week was one of the most hectic of our lives (more on that soon), but really excited to now make it down to the nation’s capital. Hope to see you there if you live in the area!

Enjoying This?

Make sure to forward this email to a friend and help us spread the soccer gospel far and wide! We’ll see you next week with even more untold stories of soccer.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pablo