New England Revolution Hosts Second Annual U.S. Amputee Soccer Cup, Finishes Undefeated

The New England Amputee Soccer Team hosted the second annual U.S. Amputee Soccer Cup in Cambridge, Massachusetts, presented by Major League Soccer and the New England Revolution.

Defending the trophy having lifted last year’s inaugural title in Columbus, Ohio with a 100% record, the Revs claimed second spot on home turf, finishing the tournament undefeated with a 2-2-0 showing at BB&N Franke Field.

Miami International Amputee Soccer claimed the hardware with three wins and a draw, inspired by Best All Around Player and Golden Boot winner, Redondo Richard, who netted 11 goals. Metro New York took third place, and Colorado fourth, while Chicago debuted in the expanded five-team competition.

The tournament’s top two – Miami and the Revs – locked horns in Saturday’s opening fixture, playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw, with Musabwa Nzirimwo and U.S. National Team Captain Nico Calabria on target for the hosts. The Revolution then stormed to a 12-1 win over debutants Chicago – Calabria bagging four, with Musabwa (3), Ronny Salazar (3), and Kamal Mohamed (2) also on the scoresheet.

Employing an organized, possession-based build-up in attack and a high-pressing defensive style, the reigning champions earned a 3-0 triumph over Colorado on Day Two, courtesy of a Calabria brace and another Salazar strike. Defender Jack Manning also impressed in his breakout tournament with a solid defensive performance in the backline, while Revs goalkeeper Corey Laycock clinched the Golden Glove award.

The victory ensured New England remained in contention for the crown, teeing up a tasty final fixture against rivals New York. In a tightly-fought contest, Vinny Fischer opened the scoring with a bullet header but the visitors responded in the second half to rescue a point, as the two sides clinched second and third spot respectively.

Revs goalkeeper Laycock claimed the Golden Glove award, having conceded just four goals, producing a string of excellent saves.

One of the USA’s fastest-growing adaptive sports, amputee soccer is played 7-v-7 on a three-quarter-size field with the six outfield players utilizing forearm crutches and one leg, and the goalkeepers only having use of one arm. The sport is currently contested in 70 countries with professional leagues hosted in several countries, and is regarded as highly-technical and tactical, with the best teams in the world showcasing exceptional physical strength and fluid movement.

Despite poor weather on Sunday, both days drew passionate crowds in Cambridge. To further showcase the game, the 2024 US Amputee Cup tournament also hosted special interactive clinics, presented by the American Amputee Soccer Association, New England Amputee Soccer Association, and United Adaptive Soccer Association, with a focus on amputee soccer fundamentals, and the use and adjustment of forearm crutches.

The New England Team will regroup this off-season, focusing on the growth of the New England Amputee Soccer Association. The NEASA just received its non-profit status with ambitious plans for development of the sport across all levels in the region – their goal: to build a team of administrators to bring the sport to the next level. Over the next five years, the organization hopes to grow the sport for youth, create a competitive women’s team to work with the new Bos Nation NWSL team, create a recreational league for players of all abilities, and provide further opportunities for training and development of the elite amputee soccer players in New England, providing a platform for more players to achieve excellence for the Revs and Team USA.

Roster: Nico Calabria, Kamal Mohamed, Kelvin Jimenez, Kevin Chambers, Michael Connors, Musabwa Nzirimwo
Damon Goga, Ronny Salazar, Jack Manning, Vinny Fischer, Corey Laycock

Coach: Charlie Livingstone
Team Manager: Danielle Potemri