1979 North American Soccer League season

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

New York
(July 8 – August 12)[6]
Longest losing run14, Edmonton
(May 26 – July 18)[7]
Highest attendance76,031 (Tulsa at New York) (August 26)[8]
Lowest attendance653 (N.E. at Houston) (April 19)[9]
Average attendance14,201[10]
← 1978
→

The 1979

North American Soccer League
season was the 67th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer and the 12th with a national first-division league in the United States and Canada.

Changes from the previous season

Rules changes

A rule modification required that each squad play two U.S. or Canadian players and that each 17-man roster carry six such players.[11]

New teams

  • None

Teams folding

  • None

Teams moving

  • Colorado Caribous to Atlanta Chiefs
  • Oakland Stompers to Edmonton Drillers

Name changes

  • Cosmos to New York Cosmos
  • Toronto Metros-Croatia to Toronto Blizzard

Map of clubs

Whitecaps
American East Division American Central Division American West Division
National East Division National Central Division National West Division

Season recap

Compared to the previous season's upheaval, 1979 was a relatively tranquil year. The league format remained unchanged with 24 teams divided into six divisions within two conferences, and a 16-team playoff. A slight modification to the first round of the playoffs, from a single game to the two-game format used in later rounds, was made. Also the minigame, used to decide tied playoff series, no longer ended on a golden goal (sudden death). Instead, the entire 30 minutes was played.[12]

Still, there were issues to be sorted out. There was a brief players' strike on April 14, as the league refused to recognize the newly formed Players Association.[13] However, since the majority of NASL players were foreign and unsure of American and Canadian labor laws, support was minimal.[14] An estimated three quarters of NASL players crossed the picket line once the Justice Department implied that foreign players would be subject to deportation.[15]

The

Edmonton Drillers were particularly bad, setting a record for most consecutive losses in league history with 14.[18]

At the other end of the table, the

Philadelphia Fury, who were winless on the road during the regular season, won the deciding game in Houston.[20]

That meant the door was opened for the

Oscar Fabbiani
's 25 goals and a defense that gave up 46 goals, the second-fewest in the league.

The two-time defending champion Cosmos kept rolling, posting another 24–6 record and surpassing their league record for points with 216.

Vancouver Whitecaps,[25]
he earned league MVP honors for his efforts.

New York proved that they did not need him to score goals, as

ABC Sports' three-year TV contract with the league in May;[27] a Soccer Bowl '78 rematch in which they lost 3–2 at Tampa Bay. The network would cover nine regular-season and playoff games per year. This included coverage of the next three Soccer Bowls.[28]

However, the league's dream of the Cosmos hosting another Soccer Bowl in front of a national TV audience went up in smoke when New York lost to Vancouver in a memorable playoff matchup. After the Whitecaps won the first game of the National Conference final in Vancouver,[29] the teams played for three and a half hours at Giants Stadium three days later on ABC. The Cosmos won the regular game in a shootout, tying the series at one. The deciding minigame would also go to a shootout, where Derek Possee gave Vancouver the lead. After the Cosmos' Ricky Davis and the Whitecaps' Alan Ball missed on their chances, New York's Nelsi Morais was unable to beat the five-second clock and his goal was waved off, giving Vancouver the win.[30]

Vancouver went on to beat the Rowdies a week later in the Soccer Bowl. Trevor Whymark scored both Vancouver goals and earned game MVP honors,[31] while Tampa Bay suffered their second straight loss in the championship game.[32] Attendance at Giants Stadium was well below projections, as 50,699 showed up despite 66,843 tickets having been sold.[33] The Whitecaps' Alan Ball was named playoff MVP for his seven-assist effort in Vancouver's championship run.[34] Attendance estimates vary (they range from 60,000 to 150,000 people),[35] but the resulting championship parade is still considered the largest public demonstration in Vancouver civic history.[36]

Another positive sign for the league was that this would be the first offseason in NASL history where no franchises folded or moved.

Regular season

6 points for a win, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each regulation goal scored up to three per game.

Division standings

 -Playoffs via division standings.  -Playoffs via wildcard.

Conference standings

American Conference

American Conference standings
Pos Div Team Pld W L GF GA GD BP Pts Qualification
1 C Houston Hurricane 30 22 8 61 46 +15 55 187 Playoffs (division winner)
2 E Tampa Bay Rowdies (A) 30 19 11 67 46 +21 55 169
3 W San Diego Sockers 30 15 15 59 55 +4 50 140[a]
4 E Fort Lauderdale Strikers 30 17 13 75 64 +11 63 165 Playoffs (division runner-up)
5 C Chicago Sting 30 16 14 70 61 +9 63 159
6 W California Surf 30 15 15 53 56 −3 50 140
7 C Detroit Express 30 14 16 60 56 +4 48 132 Playoffs (wildcard berth)
8 E Philadelphia Fury 30 10 20 55 60 −5 51 111
9 E New England Tea Men 30 12 18 41 56 −15 38 110
10 W Edmonton Drillers 30 8 22 43 78 −35 40 88
11 W San Jose Earthquakes 30 8 22 41 74 −33 38 86
12 C Memphis Rogues 30 6 24 38 74 −36 37 73
Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 1979. Source: Overall standings
Rules for classification: 1) Division position; 2) Points; 3) Wins; 4) Goal differential
(A) Conference champion
Notes:
  1. ^ San Diego had less points than Fort Lauderdale and Chicago, but won the third seed due to being the third best team who won their division.

National Conference

National Conference standings
Pos Div Team Pld W L GF GA GD BP Pts Qualification
1 E New York Cosmos 30 24 6 84 52 +32 72 216 Playoffs (division winner)
2 C Minnesota Kicks 30 21 9 67 48 +19 58 184
3 W
Vancouver Whitecaps
(N) 		30 20 10 54 34 +20 52 172
4 E Washington Diplomats 30 19 11 68 50 +18 58 172 Playoffs (division runner-up)
5 W Los Angeles Aztecs 30 18 12 62 47 +15 54 162
6 C Dallas Tornado 30 17 13 53 51 +2 50 152
7 C Tulsa Roughnecks 30 14 16 61 56 +5 55 139 Playoffs (wildcard berth)
8 E Toronto Blizzard 30 14 16 52 65 −13 49 133
9 E Rochester Lancers 30 15 15 43 57 −14 42 132
10 W Seattle Sounders 30 13 17 58 52 +6 47 125
11 W Portland Timbers 30 11 19 50 75 −25 56 122
12 C Atlanta Chiefs 30 12 18 59 61 −2 49 121
Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 1979. Source: Overall standings
Rules for classification: 1) Division position; 2) Points; 3) Wins; 4) Goal differential
(N) Conference champion

Overall standings

Overall standings
Pos Div Team Pld W L GF GA GD BP Pts
1 NE New York Cosmos (P) 30 24 6 84 52 +32 72 216
2 AC Houston Hurricane 30 22 8 61 46 +15 55 187
3 NC Minnesota Kicks 30 21 9 67 48 +19 58 184
4 NW
Vancouver Whitecaps
(C) 		30 20 10 54 34 +20 52 172
5 NE Washington Diplomats 30 19 11 68 50 +18 58 172
6 AE Tampa Bay Rowdies 30 19 11 67 46 +21 55 169
7 AE Fort Lauderdale Strikers 30 17 13 75 64 +11 63 165
8 NW Los Angeles Aztecs 30 18 12 62 47 +15 54 162
9 AC Chicago Sting 30 16 14 70 61 +9 63 159
10 NC Dallas Tornado 30 17 13 53 51 +2 50 152
11 AW San Diego Sockers 30 15 15 59 55 +4 50 140
12 AW California Surf 30 15 15 53 56 −3 50 140
13 NC Tulsa Roughnecks 30 14 16 61 56 +5 55 139
14 NE Toronto Blizzard 30 14 16 52 65 −13 49 133
15 NE Rochester Lancers 30 15 15 43 57 −14 42 132
16 AC Detroit Express 30 14 16 60 56 +4 48 132
17 NW Seattle Sounders 30 13 17 58 52 +6 47 125
18 NW Portland Timbers 30 11 19 50 75 −25 56 122
19 NC Atlanta Chiefs 30 12 18 59 61 −2 49 121
20 AE Philadelphia Fury 30 10 20 55 60 −5 51 111
21 AE New England Tea Men 30 12 18 41 56 −15 38 110
22 AW Edmonton Drillers 30 8 22 43 78 −35 40 88
23 AW San Jose Earthquakes 30 8 22 41 74 −33 38 86
24 AC Memphis Rogues 30 6 24 38 74 −36 37 73
Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 1979. Source: soccerstats.us
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Wins; 3) Goal differential
(C) NASL Champions; (P) NASL Premiers

NASL League Leaders

Scoring

GP = Games Played, G = Goals (worth 2 points), A =

Assists
(worth 1 point), Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts
Oscar Fabbiani
 Tampa Bay Rowdies 26 25 8 58
Giorgio Chinaglia New York Cosmos 27 26 5 57
Gerd Müller Fort Lauderdale Strikers 25 19 17 55
David Robb
 Philadelphia Fury 30 16 20 52
Jeff Bourne Atlanta Chiefs 29 18 15 51
Karl-Heinz Granitza Chicago Sting 30 20 10 50
Teófilo Cubillas Fort Lauderdale Strikers 30 16 18 50
Alan Willey Minnesota Kicks 29 21 7 49
Dennis Tueart New York Cosmos 27 16 16 48
Laurie Abrahams California/Tulsa 25 18 9 45
Johan Cruyff Los Angeles Aztecs 23 13 16 42

Goalkeeping

Note: GP = Games played; Min - Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; SO = Shutouts

Player Team GP Min SV GA GAA W L SO
Phil Parkes Vancouver Whitecaps 29 2704 100 29 0.96 20 9 7
Victor Nogueira Atlanta Chiefs 17 1432 79 20 1.26 8 8 5
Željko Bilecki Tampa Bay Rowdies 17 1549 93 22 1.28 12 5 5
Mike Ivanow Seattle Sounders 28 2517 149 39 1.39 13 15 2
Bill Irwin Washington Diplomats 28 2603 134 42 1.45 17 11 4
Paul Hammond Houston Hurricane 29 2705 215 44 1.46 21 8 6
Volkmar Gross
 San Diego/Minnesota 24 2132 137 38 1.604 17 7 6
Kevin Keelan New England Tea Men 25 2242 133 40 1.605 12 13 2
Colin Boulton Los Angeles/Tulsa 30 2746 109 49 1.606 16 14 7
Tino Lettieri Minnesota Kicks 16 1368 95 25 1.63 10 5 2

NASL All-Stars

First Team   Position   Second Team Honorable Mention
England Phil Parkes, Vancouver G England Paul Hammond, Houston United States Alan Mayer, San Diego
Brazil Carlos Alberto, New York D Brazil Marinho, New York England Steve Litt, Minnesota
Canada Bruce Wilson, Chicago D Scotland John Gorman, Tampa Bay United States Bob Smith, San Diego
Netherlands Wim Rijsbergen, New York D Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mihalj Keri, Los Angeles Netherlands Wim Suurbier, Los Angeles
South Africa Mike Connell, Tampa Bay D Canada Bob Lenarduzzi, Vancouver Portugal Artur Correia, New England
Germany Franz Beckenbauer, New York M Peru Teófilo Cubillas, Fort Lauderdale England Rodney Marsh, Tampa Bay
Netherlands Johan Neeskens, New York M Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladislav Bogićević, New York England Alan Hudson, Seattle
Ace Ntsoelengoe
, Minnesota 		M England Alan Ball, Vancouver Republic of Ireland Gerry Daly, New England
Netherlands Johan Cruyff, Los Angeles F Chile Óscar Fabbiani, Tampa Bay Denmark Jørgen Kristensen, Chicago
England Trevor Francis, Detroit F Germany Karl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago South Africa Steve Wegerle, Tampa Bay
Italy Giorgio Chinaglia, New York F Germany Gerd Müller, Fort Lauderdale England Dennis Tueart, New York

Playoffs

Main article: 1979 North American Soccer League playoffs

The top two teams from each division qualified for the playoffs automatically. The two teams with the highest point totals remaining in each conference filled out the field as wild cards and were given the lowest first round seeds. Playoff match-ups and home/away status were reset after each round, based on regular season point totals.

In 1979 and 1980, if a playoff series was tied at one victory each, a full 30 minute mini-game was played. If neither team held an advantage after the 30 minutes, the teams would then move on to an NASL shoot-out to determine a series winner.

Bracket

Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Championships Soccer Bowl '79
                  
A2
Tampa Bay Rowdies
 		3 3 –
A7 Detroit Express 0 1 –
A2
Tampa Bay Rowdies
 		3(2) 1 –
A8
Philadelphia Fury
2(0) 0 –
A1 Houston Hurricane 1 1 –
A8
Philadelphia Fury
 		2 2 –
A2
Tampa Bay Rowdies
 		1 3(3) 1
American Conference
A3
San Diego Sockers
2 2(0) 0
A4
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
0 0 –
A5 Chicago Sting 2 1 –
A5 Chicago Sting 0 0 –
A3
San Diego Sockers
 		2 1 –
A3
San Diego Sockers
 		4 7 –
A6 California Surf 2 2 –
A2
Tampa Bay Rowdies
1
N3
Vancouver Whitecaps
 		2
N1
New York Cosmos
 		3 2 –
N8
Toronto Blizzard
1 0 –
N1
New York Cosmos
 		0 3 3
N7
Tulsa Roughnecks
3 0 1
N2 Minnesota Kicks 1 1 –
N7
Tulsa Roughnecks
 		2 2 –
N1
New York Cosmos
0 3(3) 0(2)
National Conference
N3
Vancouver Whitecaps
 		2 2(1) 1(3)
N3
Vancouver Whitecaps
 		3 2 –
N6 Dallas Tornado 2 1 –
N3
Vancouver Whitecaps
 		2(1) 1 1
N5 Los Angeles Aztecs 3(2) 0 0
N4 Washington Diplomats 1 3 –
N5 Los Angeles Aztecs 3 4 –

First round

Lower seed Higher seed Game 1 Game 2 Mini-game (lower seed hosts Game 1)
Philadelphia Fury
 - Houston Hurricane 2–1 2–1 x August 14 •
Houston Astrodome
• 7,530
Detroit Express - Tampa Bay Rowdies 0–3 1–3 x August 15 • Pontiac Silverdome • 21,539
August 19 • Tampa Stadium • 27,210
Chicago Sting -
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
 2–0 1–0 x August 15 • Soldier Field • 10,019
August 18 • Lockhart Stadium • 13,691
California Surf -
San Diego Sockers
 2–4 2–7 x August 16 •
Anaheim Stadium • 8,460
August 18 • San Diego Stadium
• 10,225
Tulsa Roughnecks - Minnesota Kicks 2–1 (OT) 2–1 (OT) x August 15 •
Skelly Stadium • 14,105
August 19 • Metropolitan Stadium
• 28,996
Dallas Tornado -
Vancouver Whitecaps
 2–3 1 –2 x August 15 • Ownby Stadium • 8,829
August 18 • Empire Stadium • 30,328
Los Angeles Aztecs - Washington Diplomats 3–1 4–3 (OT)[38] x August 15 •
RFK Stadium
• 14,802
Toronto Blizzard
 -
New York Cosmos
 1–3 0–2 x August 16 • Exhibition Stadium • 30,356
August 19 • Giants Stadium • 46,531

Conference semifinals

Lower seed Higher seed Game 1 Game 2 Mini-game (lower seed hosts Game 1)
San Diego Sockers
 - Chicago Sting 2–0 1–0 x August 22 • San Diego Stadium • 11,561
August 25 • Wrigley Field • 15,379
Los Angeles Aztecs -
Vancouver Whitecaps
 3–2 (SO, 2–1) 0–1 0–1 August 22 • Rose Bowl • 21,213[39]
August 25 • Empire Stadium • 32,375
Philadelphia Fury
 -
Tampa Bay Rowdies
 2–3 (SO, 0–2) 0–1 x August 23 • Franklin Field • 10,395
August 25 • Tampa Stadium • 21,112
Tulsa Roughnecks
 -
New York Cosmos
 3–0 0–3 1–3 August 23 •
Skelly Stadium • 26,011
August 26 • Giants Stadium
• 76,031

Conference Championships

Lower seed Higher seed Game 1 Game 2 Mini-game (lower seed hosts Game 1)
Vancouver Whitecaps
 -
New York Cosmos
 2–0 2–3 (SO, 1–3) 1–0 (SO, 3–2) August 29 • Empire Stadium • 32,875
September 1 • Giants Stadium • 44,109
San Diego Sockers
 -
Tampa Bay Rowdies
 2–1 2–3 (SO, 0–3) 0–1 August 30 • San Diego Stadium • 20,267
September 2 • Tampa Stadium • 38,766

Soccer Bowl '79

Main article: Soccer Bowl '79
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Attendance: 50,699
Referee: Gino D'Ippolito (USA)[40]

1979 NASL Champions:

Vancouver Whitecaps

Post season awards

Average home attendance

Team Average[41]
New York Cosmos 46,690
Tampa Bay Rowdies 28,546
Minnesota Kicks 24,580
Vancouver Whitecaps 22,962
Seattle Sounders 18,998
Tulsa Roughnecks 16,426
San Jose Earthquakes 15,092
Los Angeles Aztecs 14,334
Detroit Express 14,058
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 13,708
Washington Diplomats 11,973
Toronto Blizzard 11,821
San Diego Sockers 11,271
Portland Timbers 11,172
California Surf 10,330
Edmonton Drillers 9,924
Dallas Tornado 9,306
Rochester Lancers 8,680
Chicago Sting 8,062
Atlanta Chiefs 7,350
Memphis Rogues 7,137
New England Tea Men 6,562
Houston Hurricane 6,212
Philadelphia Fury 5,624

References

  1. The Leader-Post
    . August 2, 1979. p. 35. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  2. ^ NASL: A Complete Record Of The North American Soccer League. 1989. p. 213.
  3. ^ "NASL sets playoff matchups". Edmonton Journal. August 13, 1979. p. D3. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  4. Toledo Blade
    . July 8, 1979. p. D4. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  5. The Leader-Post
    . June 28, 1979. p. 26. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  6. ^ NASL: A Complete Record Of The North American Soccer League. 1989. p. 225.
  7. ^ NASL: A Complete Record Of The North American Soccer League. 1989. p. 218.
  8. St. Petersburg Times
    . August 27, 1979. p. 6C. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  9. St. Petersburg Times
    . April 20, 1979. p. 4C. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  10. ^ "Attendance Project: NASL". Kenn Tomasch. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  11. ^ "NASL. Review of the Golden Era". www.nasl.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  12. ^ "NASL Playoffs Open Tonight". The Hour. August 14, 1979. p. 49. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  13. The Evening Independent
    . April 13, 1979. p. B3. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  14. Palm Beach Post
    . p. B3. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  15. ^ Soccer in a Football World. 2008. p. 197.
  16. ^ "Sale Of NASL Caribous Approved". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 4, 1978. p. 4-D. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  17. ^ "NASL owners okay move to Edmonton". Lewiston Morning Tribune. February 23, 1979. p. 7B. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  18. The Leader-Post
    . July 19, 1979. p. 16. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  19. ^ KICK Magazine: Soccer Bowl '79. 1979. p. 14.
  20. St. Petersburg Times
    . August 21, 1979. p. 5C. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  21. ^ Curtis, Jim (August 26, 1979). "Rowdies shut off Fury 1-0". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 1C. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  22. St. Petersburg Times
    . p. 1C. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  23. ^ Soccer in a Football World. 2008. p. 194.
  24. The Evening Independent
    . May 24, 1979. p. 5-C. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  25. St. Petersburg Times
    . August 27, 1979. p. 6C. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  26. St. Petersburg Times
    . p. 1C. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  27. ^ Gillespie, Bob (May 12, 1979). "What It Was... Was Soccer". The News and Courier. p. 12-D. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  28. Montreal Gazette
    . November 15, 1978. p. 12-D. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  29. ^ "Whitecaps Capsize Cosmos Again". The Hour. August 30, 1979. p. 30. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  30. ^ "Cosmos Ousted From NASL Playoffs". Reading Eagle. September 2, 1979. p. 83. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  31. Toledo Blade
    . September 9, 1979. p. E7. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  32. The Evening Independent
    . p. 1-C. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  33. ^ "At 3,000 miles from home, Whitecaps win Soccer Bowl". Morning Record and Journal. September 9, 1979. p. 13. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  34. The Evening Independent
    . p. 3-C. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  35. ^ "Frenzied welcome for 'Caps". Edmonton Journal. September 10, 1979. p. C1. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  36. ^ "Whitecaps Wyn Big With Owen". Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  37. ^ "NASL sets playoff matchups". Edmonton Journal. August 13, 1979. p. D3. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  38. ^ "NASL: Johann Cruyff LA Aztecs Playoff Goal 1979". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 16, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  39. ^ "NASL: Vancouver at Los Angeles 8/22/1979". YouTube. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  40. ^ Soccer Bowl '79 Media Guide. 1979. p. 8.
  41. ^ "kenn.com". www.kenn.com.

Soccer Bowl '79 Media Guide. New York, NY: North American Soccer League. 1979.

KICK Magazine: Soccer Bowl '79. New York, NY: North American Soccer League. 1979.

1980 Official North American Soccer League Guide. New York, NY: North American Soccer League. 1980.

Jose, Colin (1989). NASL: A Complete Record of the North American Soccer League. Derby, England: Breedon Books.

Jose, Colin (2003). North American Soccer League Encyclopedia. Haworth, NJ: St. Johann Press.

Wangerin, David (2008). Soccer In A Football World. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.

ISBN 9781592138852
.

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