1978 North American Soccer League season

The 1978 North American Soccer League season was the 66th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 11th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada.

North American Soccer League
Season1978
ChampionsCosmos
(3rd title)
PremiersCosmos
(2nd title)
Matches played360
Goals scored1,240 (3.44 per match)
Top goalscorerGiorgio Chinaglia
(34 goals)
Biggest home winDET 10–0 SJ
(July 12)[1]
Biggest away winLA 0–5 MIN
(August 2)[2]
Highest scoringDET 10–0 SJ
(July 12)[3]
TOR 8–2 OAK
(June 30)[4]
Longest winning run13, Vancouver
(June 22 – August 6)[5]
Longest losing run13, San Jose
(May 31 – July 19)[6]
Highest attendance71,219
Seattle at Cosmos
(May 21)[7]
Lowest attendance1,538
N.E. at Chicago (May 7)[8]
Average attendance13,084[9]
← 1977
1979 →

Changes from the previous season

New teams

Teams folding
  • None

Teams moving
  • Connecticut Bicentennials to Oakland Stompers
  • Las Vegas Quicksilver to San Diego Sockers
  • St. Louis Stars to California Surf
  • Team Hawaii to Tulsa Roughnecks

Name changes
  • None

Season recap

Bolstered by the success of the previous season, the league added six teams to reach 24 in total.[10] The Colorado Caribous launched in Denver,[11] the Detroit Express[12] and Houston Hurricane[13] became the second and third teams to play in fully enclosed indoor stadiums, the Philadelphia Fury brought soccer back to Philadelphia,[14] the New England Tea Men would be the third attempt to have NASL soccer succeed in the Boston area and the Memphis Rogues would bring pro soccer to Tennessee.

There were also the usual franchise movements. Team Hawaii became the Tulsa Roughnecks,[15] the Las Vegas Quicksilver became the San Diego Sockers, the Connecticut Bicentennials became the Oakland Stompers and the St. Louis Stars moved to Anaheim to become the California Surf.

With so many new clubs, the NASL realigned into a six-division format while expanding the playoffs to include 16 teams. The new alignment was a direct copy of the NFL's setup, as the new three-division conferences were called the 'American Soccer Conference' and the 'National Soccer Conference', respectively. Each conference had East, Central and West divisions as well.[16]

The top two teams in each division would quality for the playoffs. The other spots would go to the next best two teams in the conference, regardless of division. The top three seeds went to the division winners, seeds 4-6 went to the second place teams and the last two seeds were known as 'wild-cards' – another nod to the NFL. The winners of each successive round would be reseeded within the conference. The first round and the Soccer Bowl were single games, while the conference semifinals and championships were two-game series. As in the 1977 playoffs, if both teams were tied at one win apiece at the conclusion of Game 2, there would be a 30-minute sudden-death mini-game and a shootout if necessary.[17]

The Cosmos would set records for most wins and points in an NASL season, thanks to their 24-6 regular-season mark (shared with the Vancouver Whitecaps) and 212 points. The Cosmos beat the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, 7–0, on opening day[18] and never looked back, scoring 88 times while losing just three games in regulation. Giorgio Chinaglia scored 34 goals and 79 points, setting league records in the process. He did not win regular season MVP honors, however. That award went to New England's Mike Flanagan, who scored 30 goals and 68 points while leading the Tea Men to an unlikely ASC East title. At the age of 36, Alan Hinton of Vancouver set a league record of his own with 30 assists.[19]

Still, the Cosmos needed a major rally to beat the Minnesota Kicks in the NSC playoffs. The Kicks won the first game by an extraordinary 9–2 score behind Alan Willey's five goals,[20] but the Cosmos won Game 2, 4–0, back at Giants Stadium. The resulting mini-game went to a shootout, and Carlos Alberto and Franz Beckenbauer scored goals to keep the Cosmos alive.[21] The Portland Timbers were shut out over both games of the National Conference final,[22] and the Tampa Bay Rowdies were beaten before 74,901 fans at Giants Stadium in the Soccer Bowl.[23] The Cosmos became the first back-to-back champions in NASL history.

After the season the Colorado Caribous would move to Atlanta,[24] while the Oakland Stompers would move to Edmonton just two months before the start of the 1979 NASL season.[25] The Stompers had drawn over 32,000 for their opening game at the Oakland Coliseum,[26] but were drawing crowds under 10,000 by the end of the season. The Caribous had the worst record in the league and only drew one crowd bigger than 10,000 the entire year.

Regular season

W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, BP = Bonus Points, Pts = Point System

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

 -Premiers (most points).  -Other playoff teams.

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
Giorgio Chinaglia Cosmos30341179
Mike Flanagan New England Tea Men2830868
Trevor Francis Detroit Express20221054
Kevin Hector Vancouver Whitecaps28211052
Rodney Marsh Tampa Bay Rowdies26181652
Jeff Bourne Dallas Tornado3021850
Karl-Heinz Granitza Chicago Sting2219947
Alan Willey Minnesota Kicks3021345
Ivan Lukačević Toronto Metros-Croatia1716537
David Irving Fort Lauderdale Strikers2816537
Bob Lenarduzzi Vancouver Whitecaps29101737
Vladislav Bogićević Cosmos30101737

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 GA GAA W L SO
Phil ParkesVancouver Whitecaps292650280.9523610
Erol YasinCosmos221916241.131756
Mick PoolePortland Timbers302783361.1620109
Steve HardwickDetroit Express302734361.1920109
Kevin KeelanNew England Tea Men292609361.2418117
Winston DuBoseTampa Bay Rowdies151352191.27874
Željko BileckiToronto Metros-Croatia171550231.341076
Dave JokerstCalifornia Surf171574241.37986
Colin BoultonTulsa Roughnecks282531391.39171110
Tony ChurskySeattle Sounders282617411.4114149

NASL All-Stars
First Team  Position  Second TeamHonorable Mention
England Kevin Keelan, New England G United States Alan Mayer, San Diego Northern Ireland Bill Irwin, Washington
Brazil Carlos Alberto, Cosmos D Canada Bruce Wilson, Chicago England Maurice Whittle, Fort Lauderdale
Wales Mike England, Seattle D Haiti Arsene Auguste, Tampa Bay United States Werner Roth, Cosmos
England Ray Evans, California D England John Craven, Vancouver Scotland Jim Steele, Washington
England Chris Turner, New England D England Alan Merrick, Minnesota United States Dave D'Errico, New England
Germany Franz Beckenbauer, Cosmos M Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladislav Bogićević, Cosmos South Africa Ace Ntsoelengoe, Minnesota
Republic of Ireland Gerry Daly, New England M England Alan Ball, Philadelphia Northern Ireland George Best, Fort Lauderdale
England Rodney Marsh, Tampa Bay M England Ray Hudson, Fort Lauderdale Hungary József Horváth, Rochester
England Mike Flanagan, New England F England Steve Hunt, Cosmos England Dennis Tueart, Cosmos
England Trevor Francis, Detroit F South Africa Steve Wegerle, Tampa Bay Germany Karl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago
Italy Giorgio Chinaglia, Cosmos F England Kevin Hector, Vancouver Bermuda Clyde Best, Portland • Denmark Jorgen Kristensen, Chicago

Playoffs
Main article: 1978 North American Soccer League playoffs

The first round and the Soccer Bowl were single game match ups, while the conference semifinals and championships were all two-game series.[27]

Bracket
Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Championships Soccer Bowl '78
            
A1 Detroit Express 1
A8 Philadelphia Fury 0
A1 Detroit Express 1
A7 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2
A2 New England Tea Men 1
A7 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3
A7 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1
American Conference
A4 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2
A3 San Diego Sockers 2
A6 California Surf 1
A3 San Diego Sockers 1
A4 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2
A4 Tampa Bay Rowdies 3
A5 Chicago Sting 1
A4 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1
N1 Cosmos 3
N1 Cosmos 5
N8 Seattle Sounders 2
N1 Cosmos 2
N3 Minnesota Kicks 1
N3 Minnesota Kicks 3
N6 Tulsa Roughnecks 1
N1 Cosmos 2
National Conference
N4 Portland Timbers 0
N2 Vancouver Whitecaps 4
N7 Toronto Metros-Croatia 0
N2 Vancouver Whitecaps 0
N4 Portland Timbers 2
N4 Portland Timbers 2
N5 Washington Diplomats 1

Conference Quarterfinals
August 8 Detroit Express 1–0 Philadelphia Fury Pontiac Silverdome • 22,456
August 9 New England Tea Men 1–3 Fort Lauderdale Strikers Schaefer Stadium • 18,672
August 8 San Diego Sockers 2–1 California Surf San Diego Stadium • 6,238
August 8 Tampa Bay Rowdies 3–1 Chicago Sting Tampa Stadium • 26,596
August 9 Cosmos 5–2 Seattle Sounders Giants Stadium • 47,780
August 10 Minnesota Kicks 3–1 Tulsa Roughnecks Metropolitan Stadium • 36,478
August 9 Vancouver Whitecaps 4–0 Toronto Metros-Croatia Empire Stadium • 30,811
August 9 Portland Timbers 2–1 (OT) Washington Diplomats Civic Stadium • 14,230

Conference semifinals

In 1978, if a playoff series was tied after two games, a 30 minute, golden goal, mini-game was played. If neither team scored in the mini-game, they would move on to a shoot-out to determine a series winner. *Teams were re-seeded for the Conference Semifinals based on regular season point totals. This affected only one of the four series; Tampa Bay versus San Diego.[28]

Higher seed Lower seed Game 1 Game 2 Mini-game (lower seed hosts Game 1)
Detroit Express-Fort Lauderdale Strikers3–4 (SO, 2–3)1–00–1August 13 • Lockhart Stadium • 11,517
August 16 • Pontiac Silverdome • 32,219
*Tampa Bay Rowdies-San Diego Sockers1–01–21–0August 14 • San Diego Stadium • 8,014
August 17 • Tampa Stadium • 32,495
Cosmos-Minnesota Kicks2–94–01– 0 (SO, 2–1)August 14 • Metropolitan Stadium • 45,863
August 16 • Giants Stadium • 60,199
Vancouver Whitecaps-Portland Timbers0–11–2xAugust 12 • Civic Stadium • 16,437
August 16 • Empire Stadium • 32,266

Conference Championships
Higher seed Lower seed Game 1 Game 2 Mini-game (lower seed hosts Game 1)
Tampa Bay Rowdies-Fort Lauderdale Strikers2–33–11–0 (SO, 2–1)August 20 • Lockhart Stadium • 16,286
August 23 • Tampa Stadium • 37,249
Cosmos-Portland Timbers1–04–0xAugust 18 • Civic Stadium • 24,515
August 23 • Giants Stadium • 65,287

Soccer Bowl '78
Main article: Soccer Bowl '78
Cosmos3–1Tampa Bay Rowdies
Tueart 30:42' (Iarusci, Hunt)
Chinaglia 44:38'
Tueart 76:49' (Iarusci, Roth)		 Report Mirandinha 73:34' (Robb)
Attendance: 74,901
Referee: Jim Highet (Canada)

1978 NASL Champions: Cosmos

Playoff Statistics

Mini-games are not counted as games played when compiling individual statistics. They are included in the minutes played category.

Scoring

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

Player Team GP G A Pts
Dennis Tueart Cosmos66517
Alan Willey Minnesota Kicks37014
Giorgio Chinaglia Cosmos65212
David Irving Fort Lauderdale Strikers55010
Rodney Marsh Tampa Bay Rowdies5339

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 GA GAA W L SO
Phil ParkesVancouver Whitecaps327031.00121
Alan MayerSan Diego Sockers322531.00110
Steve HardwickDetroit Express330641.33212
Mick PoolePortland Timbers545781.60321
Winston DuBoseTampa Bay Rowdies6574101.67331

Post season awards

Team attendance totals
Games Total Average[30]
Cosmos 15 717,842 47,856
Minnesota Kicks 15 462,904 30,860
Seattle Sounders 15 338,677 22,578
Tampa Bay Rowdies 15 271,856 18,124
Vancouver Whitecaps 15 235,866 15,724
San Jose Earthquakes 15 214,777 14,318
Detroit Express 15 182,906 12,194
New England Tea Men 15 180,954 12,064
Oakland Stompers 15 178,941 11,929
Portland Timbers 15 177,049 11,803
Tulsa Roughnecks 15 168,834 11,256
California Surf 15 167,569 11,171
Washington Diplomats 15 161,741 10,783
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 15 157,188 10,479
Los Angeles Aztecs 15 139,514 9,301
Memphis Rogues 15 135,482 9,032
Dallas Tornado 15 128,149 8,543
Philadelphia Fury 15 121,127 8,075
Houston Hurricane 15 116,247 7,750
Colorado Caribous 15 111,266 7,418
Rochester Lancers 15 101,402 6,760
Toronto Metros-Croatia 15 93,501 6,233
San Diego Sockers 15 77,185 5,146
Chicago Sting 15 69,267 4,618
OVERALL 360 4,710,244 13,084

References
  1. "Francis steals Express' show". Windsor Star. July 13, 1978. p. 26. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  2. NASL: A Complete Record Of The North American Soccer League. 1989. p. 196.
  3. 1979 Official North American Soccer League Guide. 1979. p. 152.
  4. NASL: A Complete Record Of The North American Soccer League. 1989. p. 199.
  5. "NASL prepares for playoff wars". St. Petersburg Times. August 7, 1978. p. 7C. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  6. NASL: A Complete Record Of The North American Soccer League. 1989. p. 204.
  7. "Chinaglia powers Cosmos". The Spokesman-Review. May 22, 1978. p. 20. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  8. NASL: A Complete Record Of The North American Soccer League. 1989. p. 188.
  9. "Attendance Project: NASL". Kenn Tomasch. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  10. Soccer In A Football World. 2008. pp. 186–187.
  11. "NASL May Add Six Teams". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. August 31, 1977. p. 3-C. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  12. "Soccer League Eyes Expansion". The Spokesman-Review. October 13, 1977. p. 26. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  13. "Houston May Be Alive And Kicking In NASL". Evening Independent. January 5, 1978. p. 2-C. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  14. "NASL Song: Rock Stars Get In Act". Evening Independent. November 16, 1977. p. 2-C. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  15. "Tulsa Gets Team Hawaii". Milwaukee Sentinel. November 16, 1977. p. 16. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  16. Tierney, Mike (January 10, 1978). "Rowdies, Strikers Mates – But Not Cosmos". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1C. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  17. 1979 Official North American Soccer League Guide. 1979. p. 367.
  18. "Minus A Star, Cosmos Shine". Evening Independent. April 3, 1978. p. 2-C. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  19. Pentz, Matt (February 13, 2015). "In his own endearing way, Alan Hinton deals with cancer battle". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  20. "Willey's Five Goals Propel Kicks". Ocala Star-Banner. August 15, 1978. p. 5B. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  21. "Express Fall To Strikers In OT". Lakeland Ledger. August 17, 1978. p. 4D. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  22. "Cosmos Cut Up Timbers". Evening Independent. August 24, 1978. p. 2-C. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  23. Tierney, Mike (August 28, 1978). "Cosmos Spoil Rowdies' Bid For Crown". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1A. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  24. "Sale Of NASL Caribous Approved". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 4, 1978. p. 4-D. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  25. "NASL owners okay move to Edmonton". Lewiston Morning Tribune. February 23, 1979. p. 7B. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  26. "Shootout Thriller: 32,000 See Stompers Edge Earthquakes". The Modesto Bee. April 3, 1978. p. B-3. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  27. 1979 Official North American Soccer League Guide. 1979. p. 367.
  28. Rosenblatt, Richard (August 16, 1978). "Complicated Playoffs May Kick Out Best NASL Team". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 1-C. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  29. "NASL all-star team picked". Ellensburg Daily Record. August 26, 1978. p. 8. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  30. "Attendance Project: NASL". Kenn Tomasch. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

1979 Official North American Soccer League Guide. New York: North American Soccer League. 1979.

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, New Jersey: St. Johann Press.

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

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