Throwback Thursday: Van Der Beck Scores For USMNT In Front Of Tampa Crowd

The North American Soccer League (NASL) Golden Era players were regularly involved in United States Men’s National Team squads.

One of those players was the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Perry Van Der Beck. The midfielder went on to make 23 appearances for the national team, scoring twice.

"Back then the federation was in a different position than it is now, I think they did the best they could. A lot of the development was through the North American Soccer League because that was the viable league at the time in this country," Van Der Beck told NASL.com.

"At that time the international games were scheduled around the NASL schedule."

Playing in front of a hometown crowd in a friendly against Switzerland on February 8, 1985, Van Der Beck scored a second half equalizer.  

"It was a friendly here in Tampa. It was a good crowd.   It wasn’t like the international crowds they draw now, but for a national team game in Tampa it was well supported," the current Rowdies assistant general manager said.

"We were playing against Swtizerland, they went up 1-0, I think in the first half, and I scored the equalizer in the second half. It was on a head ball. I want to say the two goals I had with the U.S. Men’s National Team were from headers - one in Mexico, the other in Tampa."

Angelo DiBernardo, who played for the New York Cosmos, sent in a cross for Van Der Beck to head home. While scoring for the national team is always a special moment, having done so in front of the Tampa crowd, carried even more weight.

"The Rowdies were my team. I came out of high school in 1978 to play for the Rowdies. So you figure this is your home team and this is your home crowd so I was very excited," he said.

"Standing there in front of the home crowd, the national anthem, and people chanting U-S-A, and it was brought up in interviews after about playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies and now the U.S. Men’s National Team about being in front of the home crowd it has to be special - it was very much so."  

With the USMNT at a different stage than it is now, the 1-1 draw was regarded as a very positive one - due to Switzerland being a European opponent.

"At the time playing against a team from Europe, it was a good result for us," Van Der Beck said. "Anytime you get a chance to represent your country, to score a goal, and to get a result we were very excited, very happy."

The goal, which earned the draw, is still the last goal scored by an NASL player for the USMNT. Currently, Minnesota United FC’s Miguel Ibarra is with the national team, and he has been called up into the last three squads.

Van Der Beck believes that USMNT goals could be on the horizon with the Modern Era gearing up for its fifth season.

"To be honest with you, I hope it doesn’t hold up much longer. If you look at the league, the North American Soccer League, and the way it’s progressing having a player that was called up in Miguel Ibarra, who I think is a very, very intelligent player," he said.

"I know he’s been called back into the camp, and again I hope there is more players from our league that get that opportunity. I think as the league grows those players will get the opportunity. You see Jurgen Klinsmann, he’s giving all players an opportunity."

Adding, "Hopefully they get the opportunity, and they score a goal."

When a NASL player finds the back of the net wearing a United States kit, Van Der Beck will know just what they’re feeling.

"It’s something you never forget, it’s memorable," he said.