1973 National Soccer League season
Season | 1973 |
---|---|
Champions |
|
League cup | Toronto Hungaria |
Top goalscorer | John Fahy (24) Keith Summers (24)[1] |
Best goalkeeper | Blagoje Tamindžić[1] |
← 1972 1974 → |
The 1973 National Soccer League season was the fiftieth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May and concluded in late October with Toronto Hungaria defeating Toronto Croatia for the NSL Championship. Toronto Hungaria repeated their success by defeating Croatia for the NSL Cup, which marked the organization's first league double.[2] Although Toronto Croatia was defeated in the postseason, they still managed to secure the regular-season title and qualified for the Canadian Open Cup.[3][4] In the Canadian Open Cup final Toronto successfully defended the title for the third consecutive season by defeating Challenge Trophy finalists Toronto West Indies United.[5]
Toronto Croatia was scheduled to participate in the
Overview
The National Soccer League (NSL) was embroiled in a dispute with the Toronto Indoor Soccer League over the usage of players during the offseason.[10] The NSL teams forbade their contracted players from participating in the indoor league without the consent of their clubs.[11] Despite the ban, many NSL players ignored the decision and continued playing in the indoor league.[12][13] The league increased in membership to 17 teams with the approval of additional teams in Toronto, and Montreal.[12] The NSL expanded into Quebec with the return of Montreal Cantalia, and the Toronto representatives were Toronto Melita and Toronto Polonia.[12] Melita previously competed in the Toronto & District Soccer League.[14]
Several teams were rebranded with Hamilton Apollos becoming
Teams
Team | City | Stadium | Manager |
---|---|---|---|
Hamilton City
|
Hamilton, Ontario | ||
Hamilton Croatia | Hamilton, Ontario | Brian Timmis Stadium[18] | Sid Sokles[19] |
Hamilton Italo-Canadians | Hamilton, Ontario | Brain Timmis Stadium[18] | |
London City | London, Ontario | Cove Road Stadium
|
|
Montreal Cantalia | Montreal, Quebec
|
Verdun Stadium[20] | Franco Gallina[21] |
Ottawa Tigers[note 1] | Ottawa, Ontario
|
Mooney's Bay Sports Complex[22] | Sandro Rausa[23] |
Serbian White Eagles | Toronto, Ontario
|
CNE Stadium[24]
Stanley Park Stadium[24] |
Mladen Sarić[25] |
Srbija Kitchener | Kitchener, Ontario | ||
St. Catharines Heidelberg | St. Catharines, Ontario
|
Club Heidelberg Field[26] | Alex Crawley[16] |
Toronto Croatia | Toronto, Ontario
|
CNE Stadium[24]
Stanley Park Stadium[24] |
Vladimir Šimunić[7] |
Toronto First Portuguese | Toronto, Ontario
|
CNE Stadium[24]
Stanley Park Stadium[24] |
Enidio Graca[27] |
Toronto Homer | Toronto, Ontario
|
CNE Stadium[24]
Stanley Park Stadium[24] |
|
Toronto Hungaria | Toronto, Ontario
|
CNE Stadium[24]
Stanley Park Stadium[24] |
|
Toronto Italia
|
York, Ontario
|
York Stadium[9] | Giovanni Fanello[28] |
Toronto Melita | Toronto, Ontario
|
CNE Stadium[24]
Stanley Park Stadium[24] |
|
Toronto Polonia | Toronto, Ontario
|
CNE Stadium[24]
Stanley Park Stadium[24] |
|
Toronto Ukrainians | Toronto, Ontario
|
CNE Stadium[24]
Stanley Park Stadium[24] |
- ^ Ottawa withdrew from league midway through the season
Coaching changes
Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy |
Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Montreal Cantalia | Ricardo Musci[29] | replaced | July, 1973 | Franco Gallina | July, 1973 | |
Toronto Italia
|
Hector Marinaro, Sr.[30]
|
replaced | July, 1973 | Giovanni Fanello | July, 1973 | |
St. Catharines Heidelberg | John Santesso[31] | replaced | August 25, 1973 | 1st | Alex Crawley[32] | August 25, 1973 |
Standings
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Toronto Croatia (C) | 30 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 71 | 23 | +48 | 48 | Qualification for Playoffs |
2 | Serbian White Eagles
|
30 | 22 | 1 | 7 | 66 | 21 | +45 | 45 | |
3 | Toronto First Portuguese | 30 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 52 | 33 | +19 | 42 | |
4 | Toronto Hungaria (O) | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 68 | 35 | +33 | 41 | |
5 | Toronto Italia
|
30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 55 | 37 | +18 | 37 | |
6 | Toronto Homer | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 58 | 35 | +23 | 36 | |
7 | London City
|
30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 43 | +4 | 33 | |
8 | St. Catharines Heidelberg | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 31 | |
9 | Hamilton Croatia | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 55 | 53 | +2 | 29 | |
10 | Toronto Melita | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 26 | |
11 | Toronto Ukrainians | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 45 | 48 | −3 | 23 | |
12 | Hamilton City
|
30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 39 | 58 | −19 | 23 | |
13 | Montreal Cantalia | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 39 | 58 | −19 | 23 | |
14 | Hamilton Italo-Canadians | 30 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 64 | −44 | 17 | |
15 | Srbija Kitchener | 30 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 29 | 77 | −48 | 13 | |
16 | Toronto Polonia | 30 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 30 | 83 | −53 | 13 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Playoffs
Quarterfinals
October 13, 1973 | Toronto, Ontario | |||
Mirko Basic , | [[33] Report] | Carlos Jorge | Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium Attendance: 871 |
October 14, 1973 | Toronto, Ontario | |||
Stojanovic , |
[[33] Report] | Peter Testepasis | Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium Attendance: 1112 Referee: John Highet |
October 14, 1973 | Toronto First Portuguese | 4–1 | Toronto, Ontario | |
[[34] Report] | Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium |
October 15, 1973 | Toronto Hungaria | 2–1 | Toronto, Ontario | |
Fahy Allan Callender |
[[35] Report] | Daniel McIntosh | Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium |
Semifinals
October 16, 1973 | Toronto, Ontario | |||
20:30 | Branko Trtanj Solak |
[[36] Report] | Emilio Hernandez | Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium Attendance: 1500 Referee: Bob Hughes |
October 17, 1973 | Toronto Hungaria | 2–1 | Toronto, Ontario | |
Fahy , | [[37] Report] | Stojanovic |
Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium |
Finals
October 19, 1973 | Toronto, Ontario | |||
Solak 93' |
[[38] Report] | Allan Callender 2' Molnar 7' |
Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium Attendance: 2313 |
Cup
The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season in which all seventeen teams took part. The finals for the cup were to consist of a
Finals
October 21, 1973 | Toronto, Ontario | |||
Arslanovic | [[40] Report] | Mario Garcia , Polyviou |
Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium Attendance: 3341 Referee: Bill Divorski |
Canadian Open Cup
The Canadian Open Cup was a tournament organized by the
October 28, 1973 | Toronto, Ontario | |||
Peric 5', 12', 70' | [[43] Report] | Clarence Prendes 25' | Stadium: Stanley Park Stadium Attendance: 1103 |
References
- ^ a b c "National Soccer League 1926 to 1992" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-06-28. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 117.
- ^ "CSL Past Champions" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ "Croatia wins NSL pennant". Toronto Star. October 4, 1973. p. C3.
- ^ ISBN 0-9683800-0-X.
- ^ "Croatia to play 2-game series against Americana of Mexico". The Globe and Mail. September 11, 1973. p. 37.
- ^ a b Kernaghan, Jim (May 25, 1973). "This soccer club's success merely widens its horizons". Toronto Star. p. 18.
- ^ a b c Waring, Ed (December 10, 1973). "Eight of NSL's ten teams will call CNE Stadium home". The Globe and Mail. p. S2.
- ^ a b c Waring, Ed (July 4, 1973). "Soccer crowds grow, NSL secretary feels 250,000 draw possible". The Globe and Mail. p. 33.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (February 6, 1973). "Indoor soccer loop players defy threats of suspension". Toronto Star. p. 37.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (January 5, 1973). "Five teams in indoor soccer". Toronto Star. p. 15.
- ^ a b c d e "Indoor loop ignores NSL player ban". The Globe and Mail. February 5, 1973. p. S5.
- ^ Waring, Ed (February 6, 1973). "Players defy ban, play indoor soccer". The Globe and Mail. p. 32.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (May 15, 1973). "Metros hope to improve materially by taking on such teams as Lazio". Toronto Star. p. 21.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (October 26, 1973). "Crackdown on soccer violence". Toronto Star. p. C4.
- ^ a b Gatecliff, Jack (20 October 1973). "Through the Sports Gate". St. Catharines Standard. p. 23.
- ^ "Club Roma Takes on Nationals". St. Catharines Standard. 28 August 1973. p. 24.
- ^ a b "Fans unruly, NSL referee halts match". The Globe and Mail. June 8, 1973. p. 39.
- ^ Gatecliff, Jack (10 September 1973). "Slump Continues - Heidelberg Held to Draw". St. Catharines Standard. p. 21.
- Montreal Gazette. p. 14.
- Montreal Gazette. p. 10.
- ^ Brown, Dave (May 3, 1973). "Out of the Dark". Ottawa Journal. p. 50.
- ^ De Marinis, Mariano (June 9, 1973). "Ottawa Tigers' franchise quite alive and kicking". Ottawa Journal. p. 18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Nickleson, Al (May 11, 1973). "College Bowl moves to CNE as mod sod gets more use - 17 NSL Games". Toronto Star. p. 18.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (April 19, 1973). "9 Yugoslavian imports boost soccer club's bid". Toronto Star. p. 20.
- ^ "Nationals Open Season Sunday". St. Catharines Standard. 10 May 1973. p. 32.
- ^ Clifford, Dale (July 30, 1973). "Tigers bow on disputed penalty". Ottawa Citizen. p. 15.
- ^ "6 Metros will face Italian Army team". The Globe and Mail. July 18, 1973. p. 45.
- Montreal Gazette. p. 44.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (May 10, 1973). "Italia prepared for top role". Toronto Star. p. 17.
- ^ Gatecliff, Jack (17 February 1973). "Through the Sports Gate". St. Catharines Standard. p. 25.
- ^ Gatecliff, Jack (25 August 1973). "Through the Sports Gate". St. Catharines Standard. p. 31.
- ^ a b Waring, Ed (October 15, 1973). "Serbian White Eagles win 2-1 on disputed penalty-kick goal". The Globe and Mail. p. S5.
- ^ "Soccer scores". Toronto Star. October 15, 1973. p. B5.
- ^ "Hungaria wins playoff spot in NSL action". Toronto Star. October 16, 1973. p. D6.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (October 17, 1973). "Croatia wins rough NSL semi". Toronto Star. p. C4.
- ^ "Hungaria win sparked by Fahy". The Globe and Mail. October 18, 1973. p. 48.
- ^ Waring, Ed (October 20, 1973). "Hungaria wins over Croatia in NSL final". The Globe and Mail. p. 41.
- ^ a b Kernaghan, Jim (October 26, 1973). "Crackdown on soccer violence". Toronto Star. p. C4.
- ^ "Violence puts premature end to NSL final at Stanley Park". The Globe and Mail. October 22, 1973. p. S5.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (July 12, 1975). "Eagles want to win but it is costly". Toronto Star. p. D5.
- ^ a b Koep, Bob (October 29, 1973). "Croatia strikes early to win". Toronto Star. p. B6.
- ^ Waring, Ed (October 29, 1973). "'Rain ends West Indies' breakaway threat: Croatia takes third Canadian crown in a row". The Globe and Mail. p. B7.