Jorge Benitez
Encyclopedia
Jorge Benítez is a former U.S. soccer forward
. He played in both the American Soccer League
and the North American Soccer League
. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team
in 1972.
. He was second in league scoring with 21 goals while with the Ukrainian Nationals during the 1965-1966 season. In the 1966-1967 season, he led the league in scoring with 16 goals. He then scored seven goals with the Boston Tigers
during the 1967-1968 ASL season before jumping to the Los Angeles Wolves
of the North American Soccer League
. The Wolves folded at the end of the season and Benitez moved to the Kansas City Spurs
for the 1969 season. He was the second leading scorer with fifteen goals in fourteen games as the Spurs won the league championship.
in 1972. The first was a 3-1 loss on September 3 and the second was a 2-1 loss a week later.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He played in both the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
and the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1972.
Professional career
Benitez played at least two seasons in the American Soccer LeagueAmerican Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. He was second in league scoring with 21 goals while with the Ukrainian Nationals during the 1965-1966 season. In the 1966-1967 season, he led the league in scoring with 16 goals. He then scored seven goals with the Boston Tigers
Boston Tigers
Boston Metros were an American soccer club based in Boston, Massachusetts that were a member of the American Soccer League. In their second season, the Metros joined the Eastern Professional Soccer Conference. After the EPSC folded at the end of its only season, the Metros returned to the ASL as...
during the 1967-1968 ASL season before jumping to the Los Angeles Wolves
Los Angeles Wolves
Los Angeles Wolves are a former United States professional soccer team, owned by Jack Kent Cooke, that played for two seasons during the 1960s...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. The Wolves folded at the end of the season and Benitez moved to the Kansas City Spurs
Kansas City Spurs
The Kansas City Spurs were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in Kansas City, Missouri. They played their home games at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals...
for the 1969 season. He was the second leading scorer with fifteen goals in fourteen games as the Spurs won the league championship.
National team
Benitez earned two caps with the U.S. national team. Both came in World Cup qualification losses to MexicoMexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in 1972. The first was a 3-1 loss on September 3 and the second was a 2-1 loss a week later.