1988 American Soccer League

August 2023 March 2026 American Soccer League 1988 10 Washington Diplomats (1st title) New Jersey Eagles (1st title) 100 Jorge Acosta (14 goals) 300 First season 1989 The 1988 American Soccer League was the first season of the American Soccer League which took place during the summer of 1988. History The third American Soccer League owed its creation to several events in the early 1980s. In 1983, the second American Soccer League collapsed from over-expansion, runaway spending and a restricted fan base. A year later, the North American Soccer League collapsed for essentially the same reasons. In 1985, the West-coast based Western Soccer Alliance was created as a regional, financially austere league. This new league kept expenditures low while building its fan base. In 1987, the Lone Star Soccer Alliance began its first season, mimicking the WSA model with teams in or near Texas. On May 7, 1987, several team executives led by Clive Toye announced the creation of an east coast-based league using the WSA model.NEW SOCCER LEAGUE SETS NEWS CONFERENCE The Record (New Jersey) - Thursday, May 7, 1987 This new league, named the American Soccer League, planned to begin its first season in 1988. Chuck Blazer was announced as the league's commissioner and Clive Toye was named its chairman. The league planned a twenty-game schedule with at least six teams having a $75,000 salary cap.NEW LOCAL SOCCER FRANCHISE WILL WATCH EXPENSES The Record (New Jersey) - Friday, May 8, 1987 The league initially concentrated on the northeast, but in August 1987, plans expanded to include teams situated in Florida.ASL TO DISCUSS EXPANSION TO FLORIDA Sun-Sentinel - Wednesday, August 19, 1987 This was soon followed by announcements of the entry of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Tampa Bay Rowdies. By October 1987, the list of teams was finalized with the addition of the Orlando Lions and Miami Sharks. The league now divided itself into two five-team divisions. On April 9, 1988, the American Soccer League began its first season when the New Jersey Eagles defeated the Miami Sharks, 2–1. When the regular season ended the first week of August, Eagles had topped the standings with forty-five points. Four teams made the playoffs, the top two from both the Northern and Southern Divisions. The Washington Diplomats which had the worst record of the four playoff teams, stunned the league by defeating first the New Jersey Eagles, then the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to win the first league championship. League standings Northern Division main WL Q 3 0 n y NJE New Jersey Eagles MAR Maryland Bays WAS Washington Stars BOS Boston Bolts ALB Albany Capitals 15 5 39 24 12 8 32 31 11 9 31 28 9 11 31 33 7 13 26 35 green1 C blue1 Q complete Southern Division main WL Q 3 0 n y FLS Fort Lauderdale Strikers WAS Washington Diplomats TBR Tampa Bay Rowdies ORL Orlando Lions MIA Miami Sharks 14 6 46 25 10 10 27 30 10 10 23 21 8 12 21 31 4 16 24 42 blue1 Q Q complete Playoffs Bracket 25 150px SemifinalsBest-of-3 1988 ASL ChampionshipBest-of-3 1 New Jersey Eagles 1 1 1 4 Washington Diplomats 4 0 4 2 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 5 6 - 3 Maryland Bays 2 0 - 4 Washington Diplomats 4 3 - 2 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3 2 - Semifinal 1 August 13, 19883:00 PM EDT Maryland Bays (MD) Vernon Skinner 28Sylvanus Oriaikhi 44Kurt Dasbach 80 17 Ray Hudson65 75 85 Steve Kinsey85 Ricardo Alonso 2–5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/129965907/?terms=Strikers Fort Lauderdale Strikers (FL) Byrd Stadium, Columbia, Maryland 1,808 August 14, 19888:00 PM EDT Fort Lauderdale Strikers (FL) Steve Kinsey 5 46 88Ken Fogarty 13Miljce Donev 44Ray Hudson 64Marcelo Carrera 69 90 Sylvanus Oriaikhi 6–0 https://www.newspapers.com/image/129990064/?terms=Strikers Maryland Bays (MD) Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 1,406 Fort Lauderdale advances two games to none. Semifinal 2 August 13, 19888:00 PM EDT Washington Diplomats (DC) Duncan Reynard 13Jean Harbor 18 65Leonel Suazo 84 78 Mario Chavez 4–1 New Jersey Eagles (NJ) RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. 2,346 August 14, 19885:00 PM EDT New Jersey Eagles (NJ) Ken Lolla 64 1–0 Washington Diplomats (DC) Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson, New Jersey 1,531 August 14, 1988 New Jersey Eagles (NJ) Mario Chavez 2 11 Jean Harbor13 26 Marco Casas-Cordero20 Fernando Iturbe 1–4 Washington Diplomats (DC) Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson, New Jersey 1,531 Washington advances two games to one. ASL Championship Final Higher seedSeriesLower seedGame 1Game 2Mini-gameAttendanceFort Lauderdale Strikers 2–0Washington Diplomats 3–4 2–3 x August 21 • RFK Stadium • 5,745August 27 • Lockhart Stadium • 4,257 Game 1 August 21, 19888:00 PM EDT Washington Diplomats (DC) Michael Brady 17:26 21:43Joaquin Canales 54:29 Harbor, SimmonsRonald Simmons 89:30 pen. Ricardo Alonso 56:50 Carrera, HudsonMark Schwartz 57:11 HudsonThomas Rongen 86:36 4–3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/130165331/?terms=Strikers Fort Lauderdale Strikers (FL) RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. 5,745 Game 2 August 27, 19888:00 EDT Fort Lauderdale Strikers (FL) Ricardo Alonso 27:57 33:20 Carrera Leonel Suazo 29:40 CanalesKeith Trehy 30:50Michael Brady 35:30 Hong 2–3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/130290457/?terms=Strikers Washington Diplomats (DC) Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 4,257 Points leaders RankScorerClubGoalsAssistsPoints1 Jorge Acosta New Jersey Eagles144322 Steve Kinsey Fort Lauderdale Strikers103233 Teófilo Cubillas Fort Lauderdale Strikers75174 Mark Lamb Orlando Lions81175 Scott Snyder Washington Stars81176 Maicol AnteloNew Jersey Eagles64167 Roger Chavez New Jersey Eagles56168 Marcelo Carrera Fort Lauderdale Strikers48169 Mirko CastilloFort Lauderdale Strikers551510 Guillermo PizzaroMiami Sharks621411 Andy BingBoston Bolts541411 Russ DowningAlbany Capitals461411 Leonel SuazoWashington Diplomats611311 Mike SweeneyBoston Bolts531311 Kurt ManalBoston Bolts5313 1988 ASL All-Star game The ASL All-Star game was hosted by the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium. Players that were unable to play due to injury, as well as any Strikers selected to the squad were replaced, since the All-Stars' opponent was the Strikers. George Best also suited up for the Strikers in the match.https://www.newspapers.com/image/130228518/?terms=ASL%2BAll%2Bstar 1988 ASL All-Star Game At A Glance June 16, 1988 Palm Beach Post 7C March 9, 2018 The match ended in a 3–3 draw after 90 minutes, and moved directly to a penalty shootout. Both teams converted four of five attempts, and in an unusual move agreed to end it there with the consent of the referees. All-Star selections All-Stars   Position   Alternates Winston DuBose, Tampa Bay GAlan Rough, OrlandoTroy Edwards, Miami DRoss Irwin, Boston Brian Ainscough, New Jersey D -Lou Karbiener, Orlando D - George Lidster, Washington Stars D -Steve Powell, AlbanyLazzarino Chris https://www.newspapers.com/image/237872045/?terms=Strikers 1988 All-Stars rally in second half to tie Strikers June 16, 1988 Sun Sentinel 7C March 10, 2018 (injured) MDirceu Guimarães, Miami • Andy Harrison, Albany Sonny Askew, Washington Stars MRay Hudson, Fort LauderdaleRob Ryerson, Maryland MTeofilo Cubillas, Fort Lauderdale Steve Wegerle, Tampa Bay FJoaquin Canales, Washington Diplomats Elvis Comrie, Maryland F -Jorge Acosta, New Jersey F -Lincoln Phillips, Maryland Coach John Kerr, Washington Stars (assistant coach) Match summary June 16, 1988 7:30 PM EDT Fort Lauderdale Strikers Miljce Donev 14:00 Cubillas, CarreraRay Hudson 36:00 CarreraMarcelo Carrera 44:28 Hudson Dirceu Guimarães 53:00 pen.Dirceu Guimarães 57:10 AlonsoElvis Comrie 60:00 Acosta, Canales 3–3 Report 1Report 2Report 3 ASL All-Stars Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 3,179 Ed Bellion ? ? ? ? ? 4–4 Steve Wegerle ? Elvis Comrie ? Dirceu Guimarães See also American Soccer League 1989 American Soccer League References External links AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE III (RSSSF) The Year in American Soccer League - 1988 Game results 1 Category:American Soccer League (1988–89) seasons