March 8, 2015: New York City FC Debut

March 8, 2015, 10 years ago: New York City Football Club, an expansion team in Major League Soccer, play their 1st competitive match. They play Orlando City Soccer Club at the Citrus Bowl (now named Camping World Stadium) in Orlando, Florida. Mix Diskerud scores the franchise's 1st goal in the 76th minute, but Brazilian legend Kaká equalizes in stoppage time, and the game ends, 1-1.

On March 15, they played their 1st home game, at Yankee Stadium, and beat the New England Revolution, 2-0.

NYCFC was founded in a joint partnership between City Football Group (80 percent) and the New York Yankees (20 percent). City Football Group also owns Manchester City FC in England, Melbourne City (formerly Melbourne Heart) in Australia, Montevideo City Torque in Uruguay, Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, Girona FC in Spain, ES Troyes in France, Lommel SK in Belgium, Sichuan Jiuniu in China, and Mumbai City FC in India (in the city formerly known as Bombay).

The owner of 70 percent of City Football Group, and thus of 56 percent of NYCFC, is Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. Better known as Sheik Mansour, he is the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and the brother of Khalifa bin Zayed. the President of the UAE and the Emir of one of the Emirates, Abu Dhabi.

So, for all intents and purposes, these teams are owned by an entire country. Not just any country: One of the richest countries in the world, with an economy based on oil and, let us tell the truth, slave labor. 

To make matters worse, in that 1st season of 2015, some NYCFC fans were caught chanting neo-Nazi slogans. Worse still, on August 9, the 1st time NYCFC went to New Jersey to play the nearby New York Red Bulls, they started a fight outside Bello's Pub in Newark, the main Red Bull fan bar. They got the hell beaten out of them. And the Red Bulls won, 2-0.

Because of their blue shirts, Red Bull fans called NYCFC the Smurfs. City fans pointed out that at least they actually played in New York City, calling the Red Bulls "the Jersey team." Fans of the team once known as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, and who still called themselves "Metro," taunted them with the song: "Fuck off, N-Y-C-F-C! You ain't got no history!" And "Shit club, no home!" The word "plastic" was bandied about as well.

NYCFC finished that 1st season with 10 wins, 17 losses and 7 draws, 8th in the Eastern Conference, not good enough for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

In 2016, they improved to 2nd in the East, but on May 21, the Red Bulls went into Yankee Stadium and slaughtered them, 7-0. City were eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by Toronto FC. In 2017, they were knocked out of the Conference Semifinals by the Columbus Crew. And, because the Yankees needed Yankee Stadium for their Playoffs, NYCFC were forced to play their last 2 "home games" elsewhere. One was at the New York Mets' ballpark, Citi Field.

The other was at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. That's 118 miles from Midtown Manhattan. That broke the record forced on the 1973 and '74 New York Giants, who had to play at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, 76 miles away. Compare that to Yankee Stadium (6 miles away), Citi Field (10) and Red Bull Arena (12). Their fans' right to mock the Red Bulls and their fans for not playing their home games in New York City had completely dissolved.

At their next home game, the Red Bulls' ultras held up a banner combining the logos of NYCFC and the long-gone Hartford Whalers hockey team, reading "EAST HARTFORD FC," and even invited the man who played the Whalers' mascot, Pucky the Whale, who entertained the crowd.

In 2018, they got to a restructured MLS Cup Semifinal, before losing to Atlanta United. In 2019, they lost to Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Because the Yankees got to the American League Championship Series again, NYCFC had to play what turned out to be their only Playoff game and one U.S. Open Cup game at Citi Field.

The COVID epidemic, and the Orlando-area "bubble" it forced on MLS for the 1st 3 weeks of resumption resulted in "home games" away from Yankee Stadium that were none of NYCFC's fault. And then came, to NYCFC's most ardent fans, the ultimate indignity: They had to play home games at Red Bull Arena. They even had to play another game in East Hartford, although that also wasn't their fault: Canada's COVID restrictions kept Toronto FC from playing at home, so they played NYCFC at Rentschler Field. NYCFC got knocked out of the Playoffs in the 1st round, by Orlando City.

It had been 6 seasons, with all the resources that come from the Emirati royal family, and with all the resources that come from being in the world's biggest market. They'd had some legendary players: Frank Lampard from England, Patrick Vieira from France, Andrea Pirlo from Italy, David Villa from Spain. And yet, they hadn't even gotten to an MLS Cup Final. True, the Red Bulls had been around for 25 years, and had only been to 1 Final, and lost it. Which is disgraceful. But they didn't have the kind of expectations that City did.

In 2021, they pretty much split their schedule between Yankee Stadium and Red Bull Arena, and finally put it all together: They made the Playoffs as the 8th and last seed in the Eastern Conference, but eliminated Atlanta United, the New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union, before going to Portland, Oregon for the MLS Cup Final. After extra time ended 1-1, they beat the Portland Timbers on penalties, 4-2.

It was the greatest day in NYCFC history, and the most embarrassing day in Red Bulls history -- and they weren't even playing.

In 2022, NYCFC got to the Semifinals. In 2023, they did not qualify for the Playoffs. In 2024, they reached the Conference Semifinals.

Through the end of the 2024 season, they have played 131 "home games" at Yankee Stadium, 29 at Red Bull Arena, 24 at Citi Field, 3 in East Hartford, 3 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex outside Orlando, and 2 at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John's University in Queens, both of those being U.S. Open Cup matches, which tend to have attendance so small that even a college soccer stadium might not sell out. That's only counting competitive games, not preseason games or friendlies. In other words, 32 percent, nearly one-third, of their "home games" have not been at their intended stadium. And 18 percent, one-sixth, have been outside the City they claim as not just their home, but their name.

Arsenal In America: The Complete History, 1972-2024

May 31, 1972, Orange Bowl, Miami.

1 Goalkeeper (GK) Geoff Barnett, in place of the injured Bob Wilson
2 Right Back (RB) Pat Rice
3 Left Back (LB) Sammy Nelson, in place of Bob McNab
4 Midfielder (MF) Peter Storey
5 Centreback (CB) Frank McLintock; sub: 14 John Roberts
6 CB Peter Simpson
7 MF George Armstrong
8 MF Alan Ball; sub: 12 Eddie Kelly
9 Forward (FW) John Radford
10 FW Ray Kennedy
11 FW Charlie George.

Miami Gatos 2-3 Arsenal, the Gunners coming from 1-0 down at the half. The Gatos were a North American Soccer League franchise that played from 1972 to 1976, known after that 1st season as the Miami Toros -- the Cats becoming the Bulls. Goals by George, Radford and Kennedy. Attendance: 4,725.

May 23, 1973, Varsity Stadium, Toronto.

1 GK Bob Wilson
2 RB Pat Rice
3 LB Bob McNab
4 MF Eddie Kelly
5 CB Richie Powling
6 CB Peter Simpson
7 FW Peter Marinello
8 MF Brian Chambers
9 FW John Radford
10 FW Charlie George
11 MF George Armstrong
(No substitutions were used. Peter Storey and Ray Kennedy did not play.)

Toronto Select 0-1 Arsenal. Charlie George scored the game's only goal. Attendance: I can't find a reference.

Four days later, in a game that was in the CONCACAF region but not on the North American continent, Arsenal beat Devonshire Colts in Bermuda, 4-0. It was the same lineup, with Charlie scoring again, as did Marinello (in what turned out to be his last appearance for the club), and Radford twice.

Other CONCACAF, but not North American countries or country equivalents where Arsenal have played include Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Curacao and Aruba in 1965; and Trinidad & Tobago again in 1982 and 1985. Arsenal have never played in Mexico, nor in any nation that could be called "Central America."

Their only visits to South America have been Summer tours of Brazil in 1949 and 1951. They've played in Africa in South Africa in 1964 and 1993, and in Egypt in 1982. Their visits to Asia have included Japan in 1968 and 2013; Singapore in 1975, 1977, 1990, 2015 and 2018; Thailand in 1975 and 1999; Malaysia in 1975, 1999, 2011 and 2012; the United Arab Emirates in 1976, 2019 and 2022; Kuwait in 1977; China in 1981, 1995, 2011, 2012 and 2017; Indonesia in 1983 and 2013; Saudi Arabia in 1984; and Vietnam in 2013. They went to Australia in 1977 and 2017.

August 6, 1989, Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida.

Left to right: Michael Thomas, David Rocastle, Lee Dixon

1 GK John Lukic
2 RB Lee Dixon
3 LB Gus Caesar (in place of Nigel Winterburn)
4 MF Michael Thomas
5 CB David O'Leary
6 CB Tony Adams
7 MF David Rocastle
8 MF Kevin Richardson
9 FW Alan Smith
10 MF Paul Merson
11 MF Steve Morrow (in place of Brian Marwood or Martin Hayes)

Independiente 1-2 Arsenal. Club Atletico Independiente, of Avellaneda in the province of Buenos Aires, were the defending champions of Argentina, as Arsenal were the defending champions of England. This was for the Zenith Data Systems Challenge Trophy, a phony "world championship." "Rocky" Rocastle scored from open play in the 1st half, and from a penalty in the 2nd half.

For the 2nd time, Arsenal decided that the best place in America to visit during the Summer was Miami. Attendance: 10,042, the vast majority of them Hispanics rooting for the South American team. Each team had someone sent off: Independiente, a player; Arsenal, oddly enough, physio Gary Lewin.

And then Arsenal did not return to North America for a quarter of a century. Joe Robbie Stadium has gone through several name changes, and is now Hard Rock Stadium.

July 26, 2014, Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey, outside New York.

Thierry Henry and Jack Wilshere

1 GK Wojciech Szczesny; 46th minute sub: 26 Emiliano Martinez
3 LB Kieran Gibbs, played entire game
7 FW Tomáš Rosický; 71st minute sub: 37 Chuba Akpom
8 MF Mikel Arteta; 46th minute sub: 34 Francis Coquelin
10 MF Jack Wilshere; 71st minute sub: 56 Jon Toral
16 MF Aaron Ramsey; 46th minute sub: 24 Abou Diaby
18 CB Nacho Monreal, played entire game
19 MF Santi Cazorla; 71st minute sub: 53 Kristoffer Olsson
25 RB Carl Jenkinson; 46th minute sub: 39 Héctor Bellerín
35 MF Gedion Zelalem; 46th minute sub: 20 Mathieu Flamini
45 CB Isaac Hayden; 46th minute sub: 48 Ignasi Miquel

New York Red Bulls 1-0 Arsenal. Attendance: A sellout of 25,219, including myself. If the game had been played at the 41,922-seat Citi Field in Flushing, Queens; at the 49,638-seat new Yankee Stadium in The Bronx; or even at the 82,566-seat MetLife Stadium, at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, it would still have sold out. That's how much of a following The Arsenal have in America, and particularly in the New York Tri-State Area.

Bradley Wright-Phillips, son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, scored the only goal. Diaby had a goal disallowed for offside -- incorrectly, I thought. (Some things never change: Even in meaningless games on other continents, The Arsenal get screwed over by the officials.) It is ironic that the Arsenal player most known for not playing due to injury had come the closest to scoring in an Arsenal uniform than any player I've ever seen, and would hold that title until 2024. I had seen Thierry Henry score, and in that very stadium, but for the Red Bulls.

Several Arsenal players who featured in the 2014 World Cup did not make the trip: Germans Per Mertesacker (4) and Mesut Özil (11); Frenchmen Laurent Koscielny (6) and Olivier Giroud (12); Englishmen Theo Walcott (14) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (15); and Chilean Alexis Sánchez (17).

As a result, the club was short at certain positions. Rosický, normally a midfielder, played the 1st 70 minutes up top. Monreal, normally a left back, was moved to centreback. Zelalem, only the 3rd American ever to play for Arsenal (after Frank Simek in 2003 and Danny Karbassiyoon in 2004), became the 1st player from a CONCACAF nation to play for Arsenal in a CONCACAF nation, let alone his own.

I had seen Özil play for Real Madrid against AC Milan at Yankee Stadium on August 8, 2012, and Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski play for Germany against the U.S. team at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington on June 2, 2013, that latter game being my first time seeing an active Arsenal player, albeit not playing for Arsenal, which is what this 2014 game was all about. The first former Arsenal player I ever saw playing for anybody was Freddie Ljungberg, for the Seattle Sounders against the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena, on April 3, 2010.

This game, and the 2012 Emirates Cup 1-1 draw between the clubs, may be as close as we come to Henry, who with only 9 seasons in an Arsenal shirt falls just short of qualifying, ever getting an official testimonial.

July 28, 2016, Avaya Stadium, San Jose, outside San Francisco.

33 GK Petr Cech; 67th minute sub: 26 Emiliano Martinez
2 RB Mathieu Debuchy; 46th minute sub: 24 Héctor Bellerín)
3 LB Kieran Gibbs; 46th minute sub: 18 Nacho Monreal
10 MF Jack Wilshere; 46th minute sub: 17 Alex Iwobi
14 FW Theo Walcott; 67th minute sub: 68 MF Chris Willock, his Arsenal debut
15 MF Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; 67th minute sub: 32 FW Chuba Akpom
16 CB Rob Holding, his Arsenal debut, played entire game
28 MF Joel Campbell; 69th minute sub: 31 FW Jeff Reine-Adelaide
34 MF Francis Coquelin; 46th minute sub: 29 Granit Xhaka, his Arsenal debut
35 MF Mohamed Elneny; 67th minute sub: 40 Gedion Zelalem
37 CB Krystian Bielik; 46th minute sub: 21 Calum Chambers

MLS All-Stars 1-2 Arsenal. Campbell and Akpom the Arsenal scorers.

Özil, Koscielny and Giroud did not play, because they featured in Euro 2016. Özil at least made the trip. Mertesacker did not, because he was injured. Sánchez, now wearing 7, did not make the trip, because he featured in the Copa America.

Attendance: Listed as exactly 18,000, which, if true, would be a sellout. Just 2 days later, Liverpool and AC Milan played just a few miles away at Levi's Stadium, the new home of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, and sold out at 68,500. I have no doubt that Arsenal, never mind the MLS All-Stars, could have sold that out, too. Avaya Stadium is now named PayPal Park.

July 31, 2016, StubHub Center, Carson, California, outside Los Angeles.

13 GK David Ospina; 68th minute sub: 26 Emiliano Martinez
14 FW Theo Walcott; 46th minute sub: 32 Chuba Akpom
15 MF Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; 65th minute sub: 40 Gedion Zelalem
16 CB Rob Holding, played entire game
17 MF Alex Iwobi; 65th minute sub: 68 Chris Willock
18 LB Nacho Monreal; 46th minute sub: 3 Kieran Gibbs
19 MF Santi Cazorla; 46th minute sub: 28 Joel Campbell
21 CB Calum Chambers; 46th minute sub: 37 Kristian Bielik
24 RB Héctor Bellerín; 46th minute sub: 2 Mathieu Debuchy
29 MF Granit Xhaka; 46th minute sub: 35 Mohamed Elneny
34 MF Francis Coquelin; 65th minute sub: 31 Jeff Reine-Adelaide

Club Deportivo Guadalajara 1-3 Arsenal. Holding, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Akpom the Arsenal scorers against the team popularly known as Chivas. A rare match in which no players wearing Numbers 1 through 11 started, for either side.

Attendance: 24,000. This may have been the 1st time that a Mexican team has played in California and had their fans outnumbered. Three days earlier, Chelsea beat Liverpool at the Rose Bowl in nearby Pasadena, in front of 53,117. Arsenal would have done at least that well.

The StubHub Center is now named Dignity Health Sports Park.

Goals scored by Arsenal in North America, December 11, 1886 to July 27, 2016: 6.

Goals scored by Arsenal in North America, July 28 to 31, 2016: 5.

July 15, 2019, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado, outside Denver.

33 GK Matt Macey

21 CB Calum Chambers; 62nd minute sub, 31 Sead Kolašinac

25 RB Carl Jenkinson

30 FW Eddie Nketiah; 78th minute sub, 9 Alexandre Lacazette

41 MF Robbie Burton

45 MF Tyreece John-Jules; 78th minute sub, 14 Pierre Emerick Aubameyang

49 CB Zech Medley

52 MF James Olayinka; 62nd minute sub, 28 Joe Willock

60 LB Dominic Thompson; 62nd minute sub, 20 Shkordan Mustafi

77 LW Bukayo Saka

35 RW Gabriel Martinelli; 78th minute sub, 10 Mesut Özil

Colorado Rapids 0-3 Arsenal. This trip was a bright moment in the dark interlude of the management of Unai Emery, after the stupidity of forcing Arsène Wenger out. I mean, come on: Martinelli (in his Arsenal debut) on the right, Saka on the left? Still, the opponent was only an MLS team, so the best XI didn't need to be fielded. And Emery's choices of where to put them worked this time: Saka scored in the 13th minute, Olayinka in the 29th, and Martinelli in the 61st. Attendance: 18,061, a sellout.

July 17, 2019, Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, outside Los Angeles.

1 GK Bernd Leno; 46th minute sub, 26 Emiliano Martinez

5 CB Sokratis Papasthathopoulos (usually referred to a just "Sokratis")

7 RW Henrikh Mkhitaryan; 64th sub, 24 Reiss Nelson

9 FW Alexandre Laczette; 81st minute sub, 30 Eddie Nketiah

10 MF Mesut Özil; 81st minute sub, 45 Tyreece John-Jules

14 LW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang; 81st minute sub, 77 Bukayo Saka

15 RB Ainsley Maitland-Niles

18 LB Nacho Monreal; 46th minute sub, 31 Sead Kolašinac

20 CB Shkodran Mustafi; 81st minute sub, 21 Calum Chambers

28 MF Joe Willock; 64th minute sub, 41 Robbie Burton

34 MF Granit Xhaka

Arsenal 2-1 Bayern Munich. In UEFA Champions League play, Bayern had done to Arsenal what they do to everyone else, which is beat them through cheating. This time, they beat themselves, on an own goal by Louis Poznanski in the 49th minute. Robert Lewandowski equalized in the 71st, but Nketiah won it in the 88th. Attendance: 26,704, a sellout.

July 20, 2019, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina.

26 GK Emiliano Martinez; 46th minute sub, 1 Bernd Leno

18 LB Nacho Monreal; 80th minute sub, 10 Mesut Özil

20 CB Shkodran Mustafi; 80th minute sub, 49 Zech Medley

21 RB Calum Chambers; 63rd minute sub, 5 Sokratis Papasthathopoulos

24 MF Reiss Nelson; 80th minute sub, 35 Gabriel Martinelli 

25 RW Carl Jenkinson; 80th minute sub, 34 Granit Xhaka

30 FW Eddie Nketiah; 46th minute sub, 9 Alexandre Lacazette

31 LW Sead Kolašinac; 80th minute sub, 15 Ainsley Maitland-Niles

41 MF Robbie Burton; 80th minute sub, 60 Dominic Thompson

52 MF James Olayinka; 63rd minute sub, 7 Henrikh Mkhitaryan

77 MF Bukayo Saka; 63rd minute sub, 28 Joe Willock

Arsenal 3-0 AFC Fiorentina. The team from Florence Italy had only finished 16th in the preceding Serie A season, and were no match for even a heavily-substituted Gunners squad. Attendance: 34,902, meaning they only opened the lower level of the stadium. Anybody predicting that, just 4 years later, Charlotte FC (admitted to MLS 5 years later) would set a single-game MLS attendance record would not have been taken seriously.

July 23, 2019, FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland, outside Washington.

26 GK Emiliano Martinez

5 CB Sokratis Papasthathopoulos

7 LW Henrikh Mkhitaryan; 74th minute sub, 24 Reiss Nelson

9 FW Alexandre Lacazette; 74th minute sub, 30 Eddie Nketiah

10 MF Mesut Özil; 74th minute sub, 77 Bukayo Saka

14 RW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang; 74th minute sub, 41 Robbie Burton

21 CB Calum Chambers

25 RB Carl Jenkinson

28 MF Joe Willock; 46th minute sub, 18 Nacho Monreal

31 LB Sead Kolašinac

34 MF Granit Xhaka

Real Madrid 2-2 (3-2 after penalties) Arsenal. Real Madrid are the most successful team in the history of soccer. They are the closest thing soccer has to the Yankees, the Boston Celtics, the Montreal Canadiens. And, as I found out in the aforementioned game with AC Milan at Yankee Stadium in 2012, they don't treat any game like a "friendly." They play to win, every time. By cheating, if they have to. And it was rough: Both teams had a man sent off in the 1st half, in Arsenal's case Sokratis, and finished with 10 men.

There was a handball in the box in the 10th minute, and Lacazette converted the penalty. Aubameyang made it 2-0 a few minutes later. Former Tottenham star Gareth Bale scored early in the 2nd half, and Marco Ascensio tied it just 3 minutes later. 

The match went to penalties. Reiss Nelson went 1st for Arsenal, and made his shot. Bale went first for Real, and was stopped by Martinez. But Xhaka was stopped by Keylor Navas, and Isco made his shot. Saka and Raphaël Varane and Saka made their shots. Monreal hit the post, Vinícius Júnior made his for Real, and Burton shot over the goal, to give Real the victory.

Attendance: 52,856. That seems low, giving the popularity of both teams. But the Landover stadium is not easy to reach, and is considered one of the worst stadiums in the NFL. It is now named Northwest Stadium.

Because of the rearrangements forced by COVID, there would be no Summer tour, anywhere, in 2020, and only 2 preseason friendlies. Arsenal entered the Florida Cup, which would have been conducted in Orlando on July 25 and 28, 2021, the other teams being Everton, Internazionale Milano, and Colombian side Millonarios. But a COVID outbreak among the Arsenal team canceled the tournament. A new Florida Cup was set up for Summer 2022, with Arsenal facing hosts Orlando City of MLS, Chelsea, and Mexico City team Club América.

July 16, 2022, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland.

30 GK Matt Turner

5 MF Thomas Partey; sub, 19 Nicolas Pépé

6 LB Gabriel Magalhães; sub, 97 Reuell Walters

7 RW Bukayo Saka; sub, 15 Ainsley Maitland-Niles

8 MF Martin Ødegaard; sub, 25 Mohamed Elneny

9 FW Gabriel Jesus; sub, 14 Eddie Nketiah

11 LW Gabriel Martinelli; sub, 24 Reiss Nelson

12 CB William Saliba; sub, 22 Pablo Marí

17 CB Cédric Soares; sub, 16 Rob Holding

20 RB Nuno Tavares; sub, 2 Héctor Bellerín

34 MF Granit Xhaka; sub, 23 Albert Lokonga

Arsenal 2-0 Everton. Goals by Jesus in the 33rd and Saka in the 36th. Attendance: 39,245. It sounds like they only opened the lower level. It also sounds like Everton fans don't travel as well as their neighbors, Liverpool FC.

July 20, 2022, Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Florida.

32 GK Aaron Ramsdale; 46th minute sub, Matt Turner

11 LW Gabriel Martinelli; 46th minute sub, 9 Gabriel Jesus

14 FW Eddie Nketiah; 74th minute sub, 24 Reiss Nelson

15 MF Ainsley Maitland-Niles; 46th minute sub, 8 Martin Ødegaard

16 CB Rob Holding; 59th minute sub, 12 William Saliba

17 RB Cédric Soares; 46th minute sub, 2 Héctor Bellerín  

19 RW Nicolas Pépé; 59th minute sub, 7 Bukayo Saka

20 LB Nuno Tavares; 84th minute sub, 6 Gabriel Magalhães

22 CB Pablo Marí; 46th minute sub, 4 Ben White

25 MF Mohamed Elneny; 59th minute sub, 5 Thomas Party

23 MF Albert Lokonga; 59th minute sub, 34 Granit Xhaka

Orlando City 1-3 Arsenal. Goals by Martinelli in the 5th, Nketiah in the 66th, and Nelson in the 80th. Attendance: 19,738, a sellout. Exploria is a locally-headquartered tourism company. The stadium has since been renamed Inter&Co Stadium. Inter&Co is a Brazilian "digital bank."

July 23, 2022, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida.

32 GK Aaron Ramsdale; 72nd minute sub, Matt Turner

4 RB Ben White; 72nd minute sub, 17 Cédric Soares

5 MF Thomas Partey; 72nd minute sub, 25 Mohamed Elneny

6 CB Gabriel Magalhães

7 FW Bukayo Saka; 72nd minute sub, 27 Marquinhos

8 MF Martin Ødegaard; 78th minute sub, 15 Ainsley Maitland-Niles

9 FW Gabriel Jesus; 57th minute sub, 14 Eddie Nketiah

11 FW Gabriel Martinelli; 72nd minute sub, 19 Nicolas Pépé

12 CB William Saliba

34 MF Granit Xhaka; 78th minute sub, 23 Albert Lokonga

35 LB Oleksandr Zinchenko; 46th minute sub, 20 Nuno Tavares

Arsenal 4-0 Chelsea. Goals by Jesus in the 15th, Ødegaard in the 36th, Saka in the 65th, and Lokonga in the 92nd. Attendance: 63,811. This stadium was formerly known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Citrus Bowl, and was used in the 1994 World Cup.

July 19, 2023, Audi Field, Washington, District of Columbia.

1 GK Aaron Ramsdale; 46th minute sub, 31 Karl Hein

2 CB William Saliba; 64th minute sub, 12 Jurriën Timber

4 RB Ben White; 80th minute sub, 32 Auston Trusty

6 CB Gabriel Magalhães; 65th minute sub, 18 Takehiro Tomiyasu

7 RW Bukayo Saka; 46th minute sub, 29 Kai Havertz

9 FW Gabriel Jesus; 65th minute sub, 26 Folarin Balogun

14 LW Eddie Nketiah; 46th minute sub, 8 Martin Ødegaard

15 LB Jakub Kiwior; 64th minute sub, 3 Kieran Tierney

19 MF Leanrdo Trossard; 56th minute sub, 11 Gabriel Martinelli

20 MF Jorginho; 65th minute sub, 41 Declan Rice

21 MF Fábio Vieira; 65th minute sub, Marquinhos

MLS All-Stars 0-5 Arsenal. Goals by Jesus in the 5th, Trossard in the 23rd, a penalty taken by Jorginho in the 47th, Martinelli in the 84th, and Havertz in the 89th. Attendance: 20,621. Balogun had already added his name to the list of Americans playing for Arsenal; now, Trusty did as well. This result was great for Arsenal, not so much for MLS: At least when their All-Stars hosted Arsenal in 2016, it was close.

This game marked the Arsenal debuts of Rice, Havertz, Trossard, Kiwior, and a horrible away kit that nonetheless proved lucky for Arsenal: Lemon-yellow with wiggly black stripes all over the place.

July 22, 2023, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.

1 GK Aaron Ramsdale

2 CB William Saliba; 71st minute sub, 20 Jorginho

6 CB Gabriel Magalhães

7 RW Bukayo Saka; 71st minute sub, 21 Fábio Vieira

8 MF Martin Ødegaard

11 LW Gabriel Martinelli; 58th minute sub, 9 Gabriel Jesus

12 CB Jurriën Timber; 58th minute sub, 4 Ben White

14 FW Eddie Nkietiah; 71st minute sub, 19 Leandro Trossard

18 LB Takehiro Tomiyasu; 46th minute sub, 3 Kieran Tierney

29 MF Kai Havertz; 71st minute sub, 10 Emile Smith Rowe

41 MF Declan Rice; 58th minute sub, 5 Thomas Partey

Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal. Bruno Fernandes, the latest in a long line of diving pricks signed by Man U, scored in the 30th minute. Jadon Sancho scored in the 37th, and Arsenal were done and dusted. Despite the fact that the game had a definitive result, after the 94 minutes were played, there was a penalty shootout, which Man U won, 5-3.

This was the Arsenal's 2nd visit to the New York Tri-State Area. I did not attend on this occasion. I figured, I had my chance, and I made the most of it, so let others who didn't get to see them at Red Bull Arena 9 years earlier get their chance now. Besides, it's one thing to spend all that money and risk watching them lose to the Red Bulls; it's another thing to spend all that money and risk watching them lose to Man U, the most disgusting sports team in the English-speaking world.

Attendance: 82,262. My 2014 prediction that Arsenal could sell out the Meadowlands remains unfulfilled, since Man U remain the more popular team, in America as well as in England, as stomach-churning a proposition as that is.

July 26, 2023, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California.

1 GK Aaron Ramsdale

2 CB William Saliba; 70th minute sub, 15 Jakub Kiwior

4 RB Ben White

5 MF Thomas Partey; 70th minute sub, 20 Jorginho

6 CB Gabriel Magalhães; 84th minute sub, 16 Rob Holding

7 RW Bukayo Saka; 84th minute sub, 45 Amario Cozier-Duberry

8 MF Martin Ødegaard; 62nd minute sub, 21 Fábio Vieira

9 FW Gabiel Jesus; 79th minute sub, 14 Eddie Nketiah

12 LB Jurriën Timber; 70th minute sub, 3 Kieran Tierney

19 LW Leandro Trossard; 79th minute sub, 11 Gabriel Martinelli 

29 MF Kai Havertz; 46th minute sub, 10 Emile Smith Rowe

Arsenal 5-3 Barcelona. The Gunners beating the notorious Catalan cheats is rare, even in a game that doesn't count for anything, and there was a considerable amount of rough play in this "friendly." Arsenal fell behind in the 7th minute, on a goal by Robert Lewandowski, but Saka tied it in the 13th. Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the 22nd, but Saka missed. Rapinha gave Barça back the lead in the 34th, but Havertz tied it in the 43rd.

Trossard gave Arsenal their 1st lead in the 55th, and he scored again in the 78th. Ferran Torres scored for Barça in the 88th, but Arsenal attacked right from the kickoff, and Vieira put the game away a minute later. Attendance: 70,223, a sellout.

July 24, 2024, Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California.

31 GK Karl Hein

4 RB Ben White; 78th minute sub, 51 Josh Nichols

5 MF Thomas Partey; 62nd minute sub, 20 Jorginho

12 CB Jurriën Timber; 62nd minute sub, 60 Omar Rekik

14 CF Eddie Nketiah; 62nd minute sub, 9 Gabriel Jesus

21 RW Fábio Vieira; 62nd minute sub, 64 Charles Sagoe Jr.

24 RW Reiss Nelson; 62nd minute sub, 19 Leandro Trossard

49 LB Myles Lewis-Skelly; 62nd minute sub, 35 Oleksandr Zinchenko

53 MF Ethan Nwaneri; 84th minute sub, 44 Jimi Gower

56 MF Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand; 45th minute sub, 8 Martin Ødegaard

76 CB Ayden Heaven; 62nd minute sub, 15 Jakub Kiwior

Arsenal 1-1 (5-4 after penalties) AFC Bournemouth. Yes, Arsenal had a Jesus and a Heaven on the pitch in the same game. Vieira scored in the 18th minute. Bournemouth equalized in the 73rd. The attendance was given at only 13,000, so unless the upper deck was purposely closed off at this 27,000-seat stadium, that's incorrect.

July 27, 2024, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California.

31 GK Karl Hein

4 CB Ben White; 63rd minute sub, 51 Josh Nichols

8 MF Martin Ødegaard; 71st minute sub, 29 Kai Havertz

9 LW Gabriel Jesus; 71st minute sub, 14 Eddie Nietiah

12 CB Jurriën Timber; 63rd minute sub, 6 Gabriel Magalhães

19 MF Leandro Trossard; 63rd minute sub, 21 Fabio Vieira

20 MF Jorginho; 63rd minute sub, 5 Thomas Partey

24 RW Reiss Nelson; 71st minute sub, 11 Gabriel Martinelli

35 LB Oleksander Zinchenko; 63rd minute sub, 49 Myles Lewis-Skelly

53 MF Ethan Nwaneri; 46th minute sub, 56 Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand

76 CB Ayden Heaven; 46th minute sub, 15 Jakub Kiwior

Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United. Revenge for the previous Summer's loss at the Meadowlands. After giving up a goal in the 10th minute, Jesus scored in the 26th, and Martinelli won it in the 81st. Attendance: 62,486.

July 31, 2024, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia.

31 GK Karl Hein

4 CB Ben White; 84th minute sub, 76 Ayden Heaven

5 MF Thomas Partey; 78th minute sub, 20 Jorginho

6 CB Gabriel Magalhães; 84th minute sub, 51 Josh Nichols

8 MF Martin Ødegaard

9 CF Gabriel Jesus; 78th minute sub, 14 Eddie Nketiah

11 LW Gabriel Martinelli; 46th minute sub, 21 Fabio Vieira

15 CB Jakob Kiwior

24 RW Reiss Nelson; 46th minute sub, 19 Leandro Trossard

29 MF Kai Havertz; 70th minute sub, 53 Ethan Nwaneri

35 LB Oleksander Zinchenko; 70th minute sub, Myles Lewis-Skelly

Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool. Mohamed Salah decided the game, scoring in the 13th minute. Fabio Carvalho scored in the 34th. Havertz pulled one back in the 40th, but Arsenal could not find an equalizer. Attendance: 69,879.

*

So, to sum up:

Miami 1972 1989

New York 2014 2023

San Francisco 2016

Los Angeles 2016 2019 2023 2024

Denver 2019

Charlotte 2019

Washington 2019 2023

Baltimore 2022

Orlando 2022

Philadelphia 2024

1972 Miami

1989 Miami

2014 New York

2016 San Francisco, Los Angeles 

2019 Los Angeles, Denver, Charlotte, Washington 

2022 Baltimore, Orlando

2023 Los Angeles, Washington, New York

2024 Los Angeles, Philadelphia

July 26, 2014: Arsenal Play In New Jersey

Thierry Henry and Jack Wilshere

July 26, 2014, 10 years ago: For the 4th time, Arsenal Football Club of North London came to North America.

The 1st was in 1972. On May 31, days after an FA Cup Final defeat and a year after winning the Football League and FA Cup "Double," they played the Miami Gatos of the old North American Soccer League at the Orange Bowl. Arsenal won 3-2, on goals by Charlie George, John Radford and Ray Kennedy. Attendance: A mere 4,725.

But they came back to this continent the next year anyway, possibly hoping that Canada's status as a nation still in the British Commonwealth would help attendance. If so, I can't find a reference to how many came out. On May 23, 1973, they played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, against a team called Toronto Select. Charlie George, the 1971 FA Cup Final hero, scored again, in a game that ended, as a later song would say, "One-nil to The Arsenal."

They stayed away for a long time. On August 6, 1989, they returned to Miami, apparently forgetting that Florida is hot as hell, especially in the Summer. At the Dolphins' new stadium (then named Joe Robbie Stadium, now named Hard Rock Stadium), they came as newly-crowned Champions of the Football League Division One, predecessors of the Premier League.

They played Club Atletico Independiente, of Avellaneda in the province of Buenos Aires, the defending champions of Argentina. This was for the Zenith Data Systems Challenge Trophy, a phony "world championship." David "Rocky" Rocastle scored from open play in the 1st half, and from a penalty in the 2nd half, giving The Arsenal a 2-1 win. Attendance: 10,042, the vast majority of them Hispanics rooting for the South American team.

It would be a quarter of a century before they returned. They came to New York, held several events in The City during the week, and played at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, Hudson County, New Jersey, home of Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls -- then featuring Arsenal's all-time leading scorer, Thierry Henry.

Because of my membership in the NYC Arsenal Supporters, I had the opportunity to be among the early birds eligible for the group's ticket offer, putting us in the upper deck of the North Ward, opposite the Red Bulls' supporters' section in the South Ward. It cost me $60 (about $75 in 2022 money), but I knew it would be worth it. Since I became an Arsenal fan in 2008, I have had online wisenheimers, some of them even Arsenal fans, taunt me by saying, "You've never seen your team in person!" That is no longer true.

People really did come from all over the world, not just all over the country. It was natural that people would come from London, elsewhere in England, elsewhere in the British Isles. But when the game was actually played, there were banners for fan clubs from Australia, China and Africa. This was huge. If someone had decided to move this game to the 82,000-seat MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands, I guarantee it would have sold out.

Instead, it was played at Red Bull Arena. In North Jersey. My old stomping grounds. (Okay, mine were Bloomfield and Newark, not Harrison, across the Passaic River.) As they would say in London, The Arsenal were on my manor.

I got there early enough to see Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger give an interview. It was a thrill just to see him. It was a bigger thrill to hear a crowd announced as 25,219 -- most of them Arsenal fans, not (or not just) Red Bulls fans, give him a standing ovation right before the game, and sing his song, to the tune of "Guantanamera": "One Arsène Wenger! There's only one Arsène Wenger!" Especially given how much certain people claiming to be Arsenal fans have abused him, both in person and online.

Henry and Wenger

I arrived in time to watch pregame warmups. Due to the World Cup, several players who had played in it were allowed to stay home and rest, without having to make the flights and the appearances. From Champions Germany, midfielder Mesut Özil, forward Lukas Podolski and centreback Per Mertesacker stayed home.

This was not a tragedy for me: I had previously seen Özil play for Real Madrid against AC Milan at Yankee Stadium in 2012; and had seen Poldi and the 6-foot-6 Mertesacker play for Germany against the U.S. at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington in 2013.

Also not making the trip, due to their participation in the World Cup, were forwards Olivier Giroud of France and the newly-acquired Alexis Sánchez of Chile; midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of England; and centrebacks Laurent Koscielny of France, Thomas Vermaelen of Belgium (Arsenal's official Captain) and Johan Djourou of Switzerland.

Despite having played for England, midfielder Jack Wilshere did make the trip. So did midfielder Santi Cazorla of Spain. They proved to be among the most popular players on the team, and interacted with the fans more than any other players.

The World Cup-induced shortage forced Wenger to bring a lot of young reserves, and put some players in unusual positions. Here was the starting lineup:

1 Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny of Poland.
25 Right back: Carl Jenkinson of England.
45 Centreback: Isaac Hayden of England.
18 Centreback: Nacho Monreal of Spain, normally a left back.
3 Left back: Kieran Gibbs of England.
35 Right wing: Gedion Zelalem of the U.S.
8 Central midfield: Mikel Arteta of Spain, Captain for the day.
10 Central midfield: Jack Wilshere of England.
16 Central midfield: Aaron Ramsey of Wales.
19 Left wing: Santi Cazorla of Spain.
7 Forward: Tomáš Rosický of the Czech Republic, normally a midfielder.

Zelalem, born in Germany to Ethiopian parents, grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. He was only the 3rd American ever to play for Arsenal, after Frank Simek in 2003 and Danny Karbassiyoon in 2004. As a result of this game, he also became the 1st player from a CONCACAF nation to play for Arsenal in any CONCACAF nation, let alone his own.

Since this was a friendly, permissible substitutions were limited only by the size of the roster. For the 2nd half, Wenger made these changes: In goal, Szczesny off, Emiliano Martinez of Argentina on; at RB, Jenkinson off, Héctor Bellerin of Spain on; at CB, Hayden off, Ignasi Miquel of Spain on; at RW, Zelalem off, Number 20, Mathieu Flamini of France on; at CM, Arteta off, Number 34, Francis Coquelin of France on; and at CM, Ramsey off, Number 24, Abou Diaby of France on.

In the 71st minute, Wenger replaced Rosicky at forward with Number 38, Chuba Akpom of England; Cazorla on left wing with Number 53, Kristoffer Olsson of Sweden, and Wilshere in central midfield with Number 56, Jon Toral of Spain.

Only Gibbs and Monreal played the whole game -- ironically, 2 men who usually play the same position.

For the Red Bulls: Luis Robles of the U.S. was in goal, Chris Duvall of the U.S. was at right back, Jámison Olave of Colombia and Ibrahim Sekagya of Uganda were at centreback, Roy Miller of the U.S. was at left back; the midfielders were Lloyd Sam of England, Dax McCarty of the U.S., Tim Cahill of Australia, and Ambroise Oyongo of Cameroon; and the forwards were, of course, Thierry Henry of France; and Bradley Wright-Phillips of England, son of Ian Wright, who set Arsenal's team record for career goals, 185 -- broken by Henry, who raised it to 228.

Subs: 46th, Armando Lozado of Spain at CB for Olave, Eric Alexander of the U.S. at LB for Miller and Andre Akpan of the U.S. at FW for BWP; 57th, Peguy Luyindula of France at FW for Henry; 62nd, Matt Miazga of the U.S. at CB for Sekagya; 63rd, Michael Bustamante of Colombia at MF for Cahill; 70th, Ruben Bover of Spain at MF for McCarty; 78th, Kosuke Kimura at RB for Duvall; 81st, Ryan Meara of the U.S. in goal for Robles, and Connor Lade of the U.S. for Sam (with the South Ward fans chanting, "We got Lade!"). Only Oyongo played the whole game.

Listed time for the kickoff was 5:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time -- meaning Arsenal fans back in London had a kickoff time of 10:00 PM. A small price to pay for those of us having to watch the traditional 3:00 PM Saturday kickoff at 10:00 AM -- leading to the title of a San Francisco-based Arsenal blog, 7AM Kickoff.

There was a light rain falling for much of the day, and maybe they waited a few minutes for it to stop. It did. At 5:12 PM on July 26, 2014, Henry kicked off, and, from that moment onward, anyone who has ever said that I've never seen Arsenal play live has been a liar.

Of course, being what the English call "bellends" (the American equivalent would, literally, be "dickheads"), they qualify it: They say friendlies don't count, or that I've never seen them play in England. And if I did see them play in anything other than a Premier League match, they'd say that doesn't count, either. As we would say in American football, these bellends keep "moving the goalposts."

Being an exhibition game, the action wasn't especially intense. No one wanted to get hurt -- and, given both teams' tendencies toward an "injury crisis," this was understandable. The point for the Red Bulls was to give themselves some credibility alongside one of the world's most beloved sports teams; the point for The Arsenal was to grow their brand in the U.S.; and the point for both was much more to put on a show than to win. This was not a Herman Edwards contest: Playing to win the game was secondary.

In the 32nd minute, Henry took a corner kick. Sekagya got to it, headed it, and it landed in front of BWP, who put it past Szczesny. There would be no "One-nil to The Arsenal" song today; it was 1-0 to the Jersey Boys.

Given their experience -- even for the kids -- Arsenal were not fazed. In the 38th, Zelalem passed to Wilshere, who fired at goal, but Robles made a great save to stop him.

Henry was no longer the best player in the world, as he was while with Arsenal from 2002 to 2006, but he still had a lot of moves. When he was subbed off in the 52nd minute, he got as good an ovation as he ever has.

Shortly thereafter, Diaby got the ball. Following a broken ankle in the 2005-06 season -- and he was injured on purpose by Sunderland's Dan Smith -- injuries had rendered the hope that he would be the "next Patrick Vieira" for Arsenal impossible. He was beloved by Arsenal fans, but he always seemed to play poorly when I watched on TV. He didn't seem to grasp that you're supposed to pass to the guys wearing the same color shirts. As Yogi Berra would say if he were a soccer fan, Even when he can play, he can't play.

Which makes what happened here a great irony: Diaby charged toward the north goal, right under us, and fired a shot past Robles. Tie ballgame! The 1st Arsenal goal I had ever seen, and it was by Diaby!

No, it wasn't: The linesman ruled it offside. Incorrectly, I thought. Some things never change: Even in meaningless games on other continents, The Arsenal get screwed over by the officials.

Aside from that, the officiating wasn't bad. There was very little in the way of dirty play. Cahill was shown a yellow card at the end of the 1st half, and Kimura received one in the game's final minute.

In the 79th, Akpom broke away, and it was just he and Robles. A shot, and Robles made a kick-save with his left foot that, across the Passaic at the Prudential Center, New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur would have appreciated.

Since this was a friendly, and there were no injuries, there was no stoppage time at the end of either half. Final score, New York Red Bulls 1, Arsenal 0. Or, as it would be written in world soccer circles, Metro 1-0 Arsenal.

I left the game disappointed at the result. But thrilled at the entire experience. I saw The Arsenal play in New Jersey, something that would have been unimaginable 10 years earlier, and incredibly unlikely even 6 years earlier when I started watching them, just as the growth of international TV coverage of soccer was in mid-explosion.

I saw Arsenal shirts in the Ironbound bars, in Newark Penn Station, and on New Jersey Transit trains.

I saw a team that knew that, due to finances, I couldn't go to see them, so they came to see me.

The Yankees, the Devils, and any other team I support have never had to do that, because they're close. The Arsenal are not.

Yet they came to me. And I was there.

I will always be grateful to them for that. There have been times when I've watched them when I've regretted following this sport. But I have never regretted making them my team.

Arsenal returned to North America in the Summer of 2016, played 2 games in California. On July 28, they beat the MLS All-Stars, 2-1 at what's now PayPal Park in San Jose, home of MLS' San Jose Earthquakes, on goals by Joel Campbell and Akpom. And on July 31, they beat C.D. Guadalajara of Mexico, a.k.a. "Chivas," 3-1 at what's now Dignity Health Sports Park in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, home of MLS' L.A. Galaxy, on goals by Rob Holding, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Akpom. Despite his success in these friendlies, Akpom never impressed Arsenal management, who loaned him out to 6 teams in 5 years, before selling him in 2018.

In the Summer of 2019, Arsenal came to America to participate in the International Champions Cup. As a warmup, on July 15, they went to Dick's Sporting Goods Park in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado, and beat the host team, the Colorado Rapids -- also owned by Stan Kroenke -- 3-0. Goals were scored by Bukayo Saka, James Olayinka and Gabriel Martinelli.

On July 17, they beat Bayern Munich 2-1 at Carson, thanks to an own goal and an 88th minute winner by Eddie Nketiah. On July 20, they beat Fiorentina of Florence, Italy, 3-0 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, with Nketiah scored 2 and Joe Willock 1. And on July 23, they played Real Madrid at FedEx Field (now Commanders Field) in the Washington suburb of Landover, Maryland, home of the NFL team now known as the Washington Commanders. Alexander Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in a 2-2 draw, but Real Madrid won the game on penalties, 3-2.

Arsenal had intended to come back for the Florida Cup in 2021, but a COVID breakout canceled that. So they tried again in 2022, and went 3-0 on the trip. On July 16, they beat Liverpool-based Everton 2-0 at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, with goals by Gabriel Jesus and Saka. On July 20, they went to Exploria Stadium (now Inter&Co Stadium) in Orlando, and beat MLS' Orlando City 3-1, with goals by Martinelli, Nketiah and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. And on July 23, they clobbered West London's Chelsea, 4-0 at Camping World Stadium (formerly known as the Citrus Bowl) in Orlando, with goals by Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, Saka and Sambi Lokonga.

Overall, Arsenal's record in the United States is 10-2. In North America, 11-2. Not too shabby.

In the Summer of 2023, Arsenal beat the MLS All-Stars, 5-0 at Audi Field in Washington. They lost to Manchester United, 2-0 in front of 82,262 at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands -- though that sellout, which I predicted 9 years earlier, was achieved with a lot of Man U fans. And they beat FC Barcelona, 5-3 before 70,223 at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles. This made Arsenal's record in the State of New Jersey 0-2, and in the other 49 States combined 10-0. That wouldn't bother me so much if I weren't from New Jersey!

Arsenal will play in America again in Summer 2024: On July 27, against Manchester United, at SoFi; and on July 31, against Liverpool, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Rhubarb with the Red Bulls and Brito Brings It

Happy Easter. Last night, upon her request, I took my septuagenarian mother to her 1st professional soccer game. The New York Red Bulls played the San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Although the score remained 0-0 until relatively late, she found the action rather entertaining.

At 52 minutes in, there was a head-to-head collision between a player on each team. Shortly thereafter, there was some pushing and shoving. Having once again, on our way in, bragged about having been taken by her mother to Ebbets Field as a little girl, something not possible for me, Mom saw the pushing and shoving, and mentioned the term that Brooklyn Dodger broadcaster Red Barber used for such an event: A "rhubarb." I called it "extracurricular activity." Given her love of France and its language, I should have called it a "contretemps."

Certainly, what followed was "against time": 18 minutes of no action. The officials conferred with the players and the opposing managers. No one could figure out why play was stopped, even though, as it always does in soccer, the clock kept moving. At each end of the stadium, there are big screens, which look like television screens, but they don't play the TV broadcasts. Some stadiums and arenas have the TV broadcasts at the concession stands, and some pipe the radio broadcasts into the restrooms, but the Red Bulls don't do either of those things. So everyone in the crowd was just guessing.

I had to take my phone out and go on Twitter, and found out that the game's broadcast crew had said that there had apparently been a racist remark made by one of the Red Bull players to one of the Earthquake players. Since I don't have the full details, it would be irresponsible to comment further.

After the game, Major League Soccer released a statement saying that they would investigate, but didn't name the players involved. The Red Bulls also released a statement, saying that they would fully cooperate, and, "The New York Red Bulls do not condone any form of harassment or discrimination."

Play finally resumed in the 72nd minute. The Earthquakes scored in the 80th. I had never before seen, either live or on TV, more than 10 minutes of stoppage time (or "injury time") awarded. This time, it was 21 minutes. And, in the 107th of the intended 111 minutes, Tom Barlow scored for "Metro," and it ended 1-1.

Mom spent her formative years across the Passaic River, in Newark, Belleville and Nutley. She says she wants to go again, but that we're taking the train instead of driving. A wise decision.

*

At the same time, the Yankees were playing. No controversy there, unless you count that of Brian Cashman assembling a starting rotation with lots of injury-prone guys. Fortunately, Jhony Brito was every bit as good in his 2nd start for the Yankees as he was in his 1st. Brito was bringing it, going 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks. Between them, Michael King, Wandy Peralta and Clay Holmes went 4, allowing no runs on 1 hit and 2 walks.

That kind of pitching deserves offensive support. And when most Yankee Fans saw that Aaron Hicks was starting in left field -- batting 7th instead of 9th, adding insult to injury -- we figured, such support was not coming.

But, Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety. With the Yankees trailing 1-0 going into the top of the 4th, Anthony Rizzo led off with a walk. Giancarlo Stanton popped up, but Gleyber Torres drew a walk. Oswaldo Cabrera nearly hit one out, but it wasn't quite far enough. Hicks was up next, and from Albany in the north to Atlantic City in the south, from Montauk in the east to Scranton in the west, we were sure that the opportunity was wasted. Except Hicks stroked one up the middle, and Rizzo scored the tying run.

Then came the 5th. Rookie Anthony Volpe led off with a triple. DJ LeMahieu doubled him home. A wild pitch got DJLM to 3rd. Aaron Judge got him home with a sacrifice fly. Rizzo grounded out. And Stanton sent the O's a message: "So, you wanna move that left field fence back? Hold my beer." Hit hit one 436 feet.

That made the score Yankees 4, Orioles 1. And it stayed that way until the end. WP: Brito (2-0). SV: Holmes (2). LP: Cole Irvin (8).

The series concludes this afternoon. Nestor Cortés starts against Tyler Wells. Then the Yankees head off to Cleveland.