Words: Steven Torres // @Steve1T
The Elizabeth Sports Club was founded in 1924 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, by a group of German immigrants who shared a passion for the game of soccer. They became the first team from the Garden State to qualify to the annual CONCACAF Club Tournament, called the Champions’ Cup, in 1971, after it captured its first U.S. National Challenge Cup (now known as the U.S. Open Cup) the year before.
One of the Elizabeth SC players, who started in the midfield that day, Manfred “Manny” Schellscheidt, looks back at that game against the then two-time Mexican League Champions. Schellscheidt went on to become one of the most respected coaches in the U.S.
The sixth-time German American Soccer League (now Cosmopolitan Soccer League) Champions were under the helm of Scottish native Jim “Jake” Bradley from Greenock as it entered the opening round of the ’71 CONCACAF Tournament against a two-time defending Champions’ Cup winner Cruz Azul of Mexico. The first encounter of the two-game series was set for Farcher's Grove in Union, N.J. on October 3rd.
“When Jake (Bradley) informed us that we were playing Cruz Azul in a home-and-away series at the CONCACAF tournament, we all were excited,” remembered Manny, who went on to also play and coach in the North American Soccer League. “It was great that the first game was at our home venue (Farcher’s Grove) as we were used to playing there because of our league matches. I remember it was full of fans that day.”
Elizabeth SC XI with Manny Schellscheidt circled during 1970 US Open Cup.
Photo Credit: Tom McCabe // SASH
Farcher’s Grove drew 2,500 fans on that day in early October for the encounter against La Máquina of Cruz Azul, which was under the direction of former Mexican World Cup International and Olympian Raúl Cárdenas. La Máquina also included defenders Juan Manuel Alejandrez, Javier Guzmán and midfielder Hector Pulido who were all on the Mexican national team at ’70 FIFA World Cup.
“They (Cruz Azul) were a very experienced team; however, we had players from several different countries,” Manny, the native of Solingen, Germany, said. “We had forwards Charin Delice (Haiti), Heinz Teska (Germany), midfielders Victor Gamaldo (Trinidad & Tobago), Nobert Vollmer (Germany) and defenders Mario Gonzalez (Argentina) and Willie Evans (Ghana) to name a few that were on the field that day against Cruz Azul. We all played soccer and were used to the field conditions (at Farcher’s Grove) and overall, for us it was just another game.”
Cruz Azul seemed ready for the clash against the Jersey club as it commenced its quest for another Confederation title, however it did not think, at first, Farcher’s Grove was the venue for the game.
“I remember when the (Cruz Azul) team delegation was picked up by bus from Newark Airport and then asked to be taken to see the venue,” recalled Manny, who also spent 24 years at the helm of men’s soccer team at Seton Hall University. “When the Cruz Azul team manager and players arrived, they decided to walk on and around the field (Farcher’s Grove). Then they asked, ‘Where is the stadium?’ We informed them this is it, and I still remember the look of surprise on their faces.”
Cruz Azul of Mexico during 1971-72 season .
Photo Credit: Erik Lugo // ANCCIF
The encounter at Farcher’s Grove commenced on that first Sunday in October, with Cruz Azul missing several key chances to get on the board in the first 45 minutes. However, La Máquina was left off the scoresheet thanks to stellar goalkeeping from Elizabeth SC’s Andy Tutulic.
“Andy (Titulic) was great in goal that day for us,” remembered Manny. “He made some fantastic saves that kept it scoreless.”
After the intermission, the game switched gears with the hosts dominating as they searched for the game-winner. Liberian international forward Gary Sacko seemed for a moment to have found the winning goal for Elizabeth SC in the second half as his shot went past Cruz Azul goalkeeper Roberto Alatorre, however it was called back by the referee Roy Bracewell of Bermuda for an offside call.
Once Bracewell blew the final whistle, it ended 0:0, and Elizabeth SC became only the second U.S. club since New York Hungaria SC in 1963 to earn a point against a Mexican team at the Champions’ Cup.
The teams were set to meet again in their second match of the series on October 12th in Mexico City. The game didn’t take place as there was an internal strike by the players of the Mexican League’s First Division which prevented the Jersey side from making the trip south of the border.
“We were all set to travel to Mexico City,” recalled U.S. National Soccer Hall of Famer Manny Schellscheidt. “Then Jake (Bradley) informed the whole team that there was a players strike in Mexico and then Cruz Azul asked to reschedule the game for another date. We could not ask for additional time off from our respective jobs, therefore we had to withdraw from the tournament.”
Manny Schellscheidt, one of the most respected US coaches and former Elizabeth SC player.
Photo Credit: IMAGO ZUMA