1984 North American Soccer League season

North American Soccer League -1984 Season-
Season 1984
Champions Chicago Sting
(2nd title)
Premiers Chicago Sting
most total points
*San Diego
best Won/Loss record
Matches played 108
Goals scored 427 (3.95 per match)
Top goalscorer Steve Zungul
(20 goals)
Highest attendance 52,621
Tampa Bay at Minnesota
(May 28)
Lowest attendance 2,267
Tampa Bay at San Diego
(August 12)
Average attendance 10,759
← 1983
Final Season →

The 1984 North American Soccer League season was the 72nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 17th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada. It would be the 17th and final season of the NASL.

Season recap

By 1983, the NASL had shrunk to half of the 24 teams that made up the league in 1980. The ongoing salary war with the Major Indoor Soccer League had taken its toll, along with shrinking attendances and a lack of interest from American network TV broadcasters.[1] The league made plans to have both an outdoor and indoor presence, with a 24-game outdoor season and 40-game indoor season scheduled for 1984 and beyond.[2]

The off-season following the 1983 outdoor playoffs saw three more teams fall by the wayside: the Montreal Manic,[3] Seattle Sounders[4] and Team America[5] would all fold. The Fort Lauderdale Strikers decided to move to Minnesota because of a lack of suitable indoor arenas in Southeastern Florida.[6] Things had gotten so bad for the league that the champion Tulsa Roughnecks almost folded two weeks after winning the Soccer Bowl. They survived, thanks to a fundraiser that put $65,000 in the team's coffers.[7] The league would soldier on with nine teams. While there would not be huge changes on the field, the single game Soccer Bowl would be no more. The league moved to a best-of-three championship series format, as was done back in the 1971 Final.[8] The revised NASL playoff format had the two division winners and the two next best teams qualify. The four teams would be seeded 1 through 4.[9]

When the season finally got underway in May, the nine teams were bunched together for most of the year as six teams finished within five points of each other. A hoped-for renaissance in New York never materialized, as the return of former Cosmos coach Eddie Firmani did not lead the team back to the playoffs. Rumors about a possible return by Pelé proved to be without merit. However, not everyone struggled on the field. In Oakland, Steve Zungul and Branko Segota were able to translate their talents from the MISL to the outdoor game, finishing 1-2 in the league's scoring race. Zungul would earn league MVP honors despite the Golden Bay Earthquakes' last-place finish. For the fifth time (and second year in a row), the NASL's points system rewarded a team other than the one with the best record (Chicago instead of San Diego) the regular season title and number one playoff seed. Moreover, Toronto and Minnesota also had better won-loss records than Chicago. Minnesota would not even qualify for the playoffs, despite having a better record than both Chicago and Vancouver.[10]

The Chicago Sting won the last NASL title with a two-game sweep over the Toronto Blizzard.[11] The Sting needed a last-second victory over the Cosmos in their regular season finale to qualify for the playoffs[12] and knock New York out. In the playoffs they won a deciding game over the Vancouver Whitecaps, who themselves only made the playoffs thanks to the Cosmos' loss. Vancouver's Bob Lenarduzzi scored the quickest goal in NASL playoff history 46 seconds into the match, but Chicago rallied for the win.[13]

There were still plans for a 1985 outdoor season as the year ended, but the departures of Chicago Sting, Minnesota Strikers, New York Cosmos and the San Diego Sockers to the MISL for the indoor season made that difficult.[14] The Cosmos left both the NASL and MISL on February 22.[15] A month later, on March 28, 1985, the NASL suspended operations when only Toronto and Minnesota were interested in fielding teams for a 1985 "outdoor" season.[16][17]

Regular season

W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, BP = Bonus Points, Pts= point system

6 points for a win, 4 points for a shootout win, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each regulation goal scored up to three per game.

    -Premiers (most points).     -Best record.     -Other playoff team.     -Tied for best record but did not qualify for playoffs.
Eastern Division W L GF GA BP Pts Home Road
Chicago Sting13115049441206-67-5
Toronto Blizzard14104633351179-35-7
New York Cosmos13114342391159-34-8
Tampa Bay Rowdies915436135879-30-12
Western Division W L GF GA BP Pts Home Road
San Diego Sockers14105142401189-35-7
Vancouver Whitecaps131151484311710-23-9
Minnesota Strikers14104044351158-46-6
Tulsa Roughnecks1014424638988-42-10
Golden Bay Earthquakes816616249954-84-8

Scoring Leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals (worth 2 points), A = Assists (worth 1 point), Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts
Steve Zungul Golden Bay Earthquakes24201050
Branko Šegota Golden Bay Earthquakes24181147
Ron Futcher Tulsa Roughnecks2318844
Karl-Heinz Granitza Chicago Sting24161244
Peter Ward Vancouver Whitecaps24161042
Ade Coker San Diego Sockers2216739
David Byrne Toronto Blizzard20121337
Alan Willey Minnesota Strikers2415434
Jean Willrich San Diego Sockers2252030
Roberto Bettega Toronto Blizzard2381329

Leading Goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min - Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; SO = Shutouts

Player Team GP Min GA GAA W L SO
Paul HammondToronto Blizzard211937251.161477
Hubert BirkenmeierNew York Cosmos222007341.501392
Tino LettieriMinnesota Strikers181622281.551084
Victor NogueiraChicago Sting181663301.62993
Winston DuBoseTulsa Roughnecks221931381.7710124
Paul BradshawVancouver Whitecaps242161461.9213114
Jim GorsekSan Diego Sockers151369322.10770
Arnie MausserTampa Bay Rowdies232100572.449143
Bill IrwinGolden Bay Earthquakes211964542.487142

All-NASL Teams

First Team  Position  Second TeamHonorable Mention
Hubert Birkenmeier, New York G Paul Hammond, Toronto Paul Bradshaw, Vancouver
Andranik Eskandarian, New York D Dwight Lodeweges, Minnesota Gregg Thompson, Tampa Bay
Johan Neeskens, New York D Victor Moreland, Tulsa Fernando Clavijo, Golden Bay
Kevin Crow, San Diego D Bob Lenarduzzi, Vancouver Dan Canter, New York
Bruce Wilson, Toronto D Terry Moore, Tulsa Barry Wallace, Minnesota
Ray Hudson, Minnesota M Pato Margetic, Chicago Kaz Deyna, San Diego
Frans Thijssen, Vancouver M Jimmy Nicholl, Toronto Brian Quinn, San Diego
Vladislav Bogicevic, New York M Fran O'Brien, Vancouver Ace Ntsoelengoe, Toronto
Steve Zungul, Golden Bay F Alan Willey, Minnesota Carl Valentine, Vancouver
Karl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago F Branko Šegota, Golden Bay Roberto Cabañas, New York
Peter Ward, Vancouver F David Byrne, Toronto Ron Futcher, Tulsa

Playoffs

Top team from each division qualified automatically. The next two teams with the highest point totals qualified regardless of which division they were in.[18]

Bracket

Semifinals
Best-of-3 		Soccer Bowl Series '84
Best-of-3
          
1 Chicago Sting 0 3 4
4 Vancouver Whitecaps 1 1 3
1 Chicago Sting 2 3 –
3 Toronto Blizzard 1 2 –
2 San Diego Sockers 1 0 –
3 Toronto Blizzard 2 1 –

Semifinals

Higher seed Series Lower seed Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 *(higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3)
Chicago Sting2 - 1Vancouver Whitecaps0–1 (OT)3–14–3September 18 • Comiskey Park • 5,484
September 23 • BC Place Stadium • 14,753
September 28 • Comiskey Park • 10,139
San Diego Sockers0 - 2Toronto Blizzard1–20–1xSeptember 18 • Jack Murphy Stadium • 4,204
September 21 • Varsity Stadium • 12,460

Soccer Bowl Series '84

Higher seed Series Lower seed Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 *(higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3)
Chicago Sting2 - 0Toronto Blizzard2–13–2xOctober 1 • Comiskey Park • 8,352
October 3 • Varsity Stadium • 16,842

Game One

Chicago Sting 2–1 Toronto Blizzard
Margetic  50:06' (Seninho, Granitza)
Rojas  85:20' (Seninho)		 Wilson  15:23' (Byrne, DeLucca)
Attendance: 8,352

Game Two

Toronto Blizzard 2–3 Chicago Sting
Paskin  70:55' (Ntsoelengoe)
Bettega  72:28' (Byrne, Ntsoelengoe)		 Simanton  16:47' (Granitza)
Margetic  67:58' (Gray, Rojas)
Margetic  81:33' (Rojas)
Attendance: 16,842[23]
Referee: Bill Maxwell (USA)[24][25]


1984 NASL Champions: Chicago Sting

Playoff Scoring Leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals (worth 2 points), A = Assists (worth 1 point), Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts
Pato Margetic Chicago Sting56113
Karl-Heinz Granitza Chicago Sting53612
Manny Rojas Chicago Sting5237
Ace Ntsoelengoe Toronto Blizzard4135
David Byrne Toronto Blizzard4124
Roberto Bettega Toronto Blizzard4124

Playoff Leading Goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min - Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; SO = Shutouts

Player Team GP Min GA GAA W L SO
Paul HammondToronto Blizzard436061.50221
Zoltan TothSan Diego Sockers218031.50020
Victor NogueiraChicago Sting545981.60410
Paul BradshawVancouver Whitecaps327972.33120

Post season awards

Team Attendance Totals

Club Games Total Average
Vancouver Whitecaps 12 182,494 15,208
Minnesota Strikers 12 171,151 14,263
New York Cosmos 12 153,807 12,817
Toronto Blizzard 12 137,420 11,452
Tampa Bay Rowdies 12 131,194 10,933
Golden Bay Earthquakes 12 123,383 10,282
Chicago Sting 12 100,512 8,376
Tulsa Roughnecks 12 93,567 7,797
San Diego Sockers 12 68,422 5,702
OVERALL 108 1,161,950 10,759

References

  1. ↑ Miranda, Randy (December 18, 1983). "Soccer: It flourishes for participants, but suffers at gate". Lakeland Ledger. p. 6C. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  2. ↑ "Must Play in '84, Sting Is Told". The New York Times. February 10, 1984. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  3. ↑ Phillips, Randy (November 5, 1983). "Molson Sounds Last Call For Manic". Montreal Gazette. p. H-2. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  4. ↑ "Seattle Sounders folding". The Spokesman-Review. September 9, 1983. p. C1. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  5. ↑ "NASL President Denies Team America Disbanded". Palm Beach Post. September 9, 1983. p. D2. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  6. ↑ Marmor, Jon (December 1, 1983). "Strikers' Departure Is Official". Palm Beach Post. p. D1. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  7. ↑ "NASL results: 1 team lost, 1 team saved". Milwaukee Journal. November 5, 1983. p. 12. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  8. ↑ "NASL changes Soccer Bowl format". St. Petersburg Times. September 27, 1983. p. 6C. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  9. ↑ "N.A.S.L. Revises Playoff Format". The New York Times. March 14, 1984. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  10. ↑ http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1984.html
  11. ↑ "Sting wins Soccer Bowl". Milwaukee Sentinel. October 4, 1984. p. B2. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  12. ↑ Yannis, Alex (September 16, 1984). "COSMOS LOSE TO STING AND MISS PLAYOFFS". The New York Times. p. E11. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  13. ↑ "Sting advances to NASL finals". Milwaukee Sentinel. September 29, 1984. p. B5. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  14. ↑ "MISL takes four NASL teams". Boca Raton News. August 31, 1984. p. 2C. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  15. ↑ "Cosmos pull out of MISL, NASL". Ellensburg Daily Record. February 23, 1985. p. 11. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
  16. ↑ "NASL down to two teams, won't play this season". Eugene Register-Guard. March 29, 1985. p. 2D. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  17. ↑ "NASL suspends operations for 1985" page 1D Minneapolis Star and Tribune March 29, 1985
  18. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19840428&id=EaBSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V30DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6993,3735642
  19. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aeJHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9_8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3034,181174&dq=toye+sting+champions&hl=en
  20. ↑ "NASL Soccer Bowl 84 - Game 1 (Sting vs. Blizzard) - First Half - YouTube". Archived from the original on 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  21. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te2aKJWEpLQ
  22. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E3UfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DHIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1307,762232&dq=margetic+leads+sting&hl=en
  23. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ViozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RO8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1393,1734763&dq=sting+champs+again&hl=en
  24. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8acj_s5FciE
  25. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U73iltcza7U
  26. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VM1jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cAENAAAAIBAJ&pg=1813,6450390&dq=soccer+reviews+varied&hl=en

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.

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