NY sports history: April 4, 1977

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Monday, April 4, 1977

The Cosmos (NASL) soccer team played their first game at Giants Stadium and defeated Victory of Haiti, 9-0. They were helped by a group of high-priced foreign imports acquired by the organization in the preceding years. Brazilian superstar Pelé scored two goals in the rout, and Italian striker Giorgio Chinaglia tallied four of his own. Englishmen Tony Field and Terry Garbett and South African Jomo Sono each scored one goal.

Before the 1977 season, the Cosmos dropped the "New York" prefix and played eight seasons in East Rutherford before the NASL folded in 1984. Later in the '77 season, the organization won its second of five NASL championships.