1981 North American Soccer League season

Soccer league season February 2023 February 2023 North American Soccer League 1981 season 1981 21 Chicago Sting New York Cosmos (5th title) 336 ITA Giorgio Chinaglia (New York Cosmos) (29 goals) 1234 50,755 Washington at Montreal (August 18) 1,861 Dallas at Chicago (May 10) 14,084 1980 1982 Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1981. This was the 14th season of the NASL. Overview There were a total of 21 teams participating. Three teams (Houston, Rochester and Washington) folded, while four others (Memphis, Detroit, New England and Philadelphia) moved to new cities. Playoff series were switched from the two matches plus a mini-game tiebreaker used since 1977, to a best-of-three full matches played on three separate dates. The Chicago Sting defeated the New York Cosmos in Soccer Bowl '81 on September 26 to win the championship. When Major League Baseball players went on strike on June 12, there was speculation that other sports, especially soccer, would see larger crowds. However, the 157 NASL matches played during the baseball work stoppage (which ended August 9) drew an average attendance of only 13,419, less than the full-season average of 14,084. Changes from the previous season New teams None Teams folding Houston Hurricane Rochester Lancers Washington Diplomats Teams moving Memphis Rogues to Calgary Boomers Detroit Express to Washington Diplomats New England Tea Men to Jacksonville Tea Men Philadelphia Fury to Montreal Manic Name changes None Map of clubs left 10px Eastern Division 10px Central Division 10px Southern Division 10px Northwest Division 10px Western Division 1090 500 300 425 355 North America 870 North America 45.56 -73.55 Blue pog.svg 80 top Manic North America 40.81 -74.08 Blue pog.svg 80 right Cosmos North America 43.63 -79.41 Blue pog.svg 80 top Blizzard North America 38.89 -76.97 Blue pog.svg 80 bottom Diplomats North America 41.86 -87.62 Black pog.svg 80 bottom Sting North America 32.84 -96.91 Black pog.svg 80 bottom Tornado North America 44.85 -93.24 Black pog.svg 80 bottom Kicks North America 36.15 -95.94 Black pog.svg 80 top Roughnecks North America 33.74 -84.39 Red pog.svg 80 bottom Chiefs North America 26.19 -80.16 Red pog.svg 80 bottom Strikers North America 30.32 -81.64 Red pog.svg 80 right Tea Men North America 27.98 -82.50 Red pog.svg 80 left Rowdies North America 51.07 -114.12 Green pog.svg 80 bottom Boomers North America 53.56 -113.48 Green pog.svg 80 bottom Drillers North America 45.52 -122.69 Green pog.svg 80 bottom Timbers North America 47.60 -122.33 Green pog.svg 80 left Sounders North America 49.28 -123.03 Green pog.svg 80 top Whitecaps North America 33.81 -117.88 Orange pog.svg 80 right Surf North America 34.01 -118.29 Orange pog.svg 80 left Aztecs North America 32.78 -117.12 Orange pog.svg 80 bottom Sockers North America 37.32 -121.87 Orange pog.svg 80 left Earthquakes Regular season W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PT= point system 6 points for a win in regulation and overtime, 4 point for a shootout win, 0 points for a loss, 1 bonus point for each regulation goal scored, up to three per game.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7Z4oAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OnsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6650,2220626&dq=nasl+record+shootout&hl=en St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search #B3B7FF darkgray-Premiers (most points). #ccffcc darkgray-Other playoff teams. Eastern DivisionWLGFGAPTNew York Cosmos23 98049200Montreal Manic15176357141Washington Diplomats15175958135Toronto Blizzard 725398277 Southern DivisionWLGFGAPTAtlanta Chiefs17156260151Fort Lauderdale Strikers18145446144Jacksonville Tea Men18145146141Tampa Bay Rowdies15176364139 Central DivisionWLGFGAPTChicago Sting23 98450195Minnesota Kicks19136357163Tulsa Roughnecks17156049154Dallas Tornado 5272771 54 Western DivisionWLGFGAPTSan Diego Sockers21116749173Los Angeles Aztecs19135355160California Surf11216077117San Jose Earthquakes11214478108 Northwest DivisionWLGFGAPTVancouver Whitecaps21117443186Calgary Boomers17155954151Portland Timbers17155249141Seattle Sounders15176062137Edmonton Drillers12206079123 NASL All-Stars First TeamCote Greg Strikers open at home against Cosmos Saturday https://www.newspapers.com/image/629497076/?terms=Jomo%20Sono&match=1 September 11, 1981 Miami Herald 4F March 12, 2021 Position Second TeamNASL All-Stars https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=PZE8UkGerEcC&dat=19810911&printsec=frontpage&hl=en September 11, 1981 The Evening Independent 2-C March 12, 2021 Honorable MentionNASL All-Star Team https://www.newspapers.com/image/334608292/?terms=Margetic%20All-Star&match=1 September 11, 1981 The Tampa Times 2C March 12, 2021NED Jan van Beveren, Fort Lauderdale GGER Hubert Birkenmeier, New YorkGER Volkmar Gross, San DiegoHAI 1964 Frantz Mathieu, Chicago DENG Barry Wallace, TulsaLUX Nick Rohmann, San DiegoNED Wim Rijsbergen, New York DENG Kevin Bond, SeattleCAN Robert Iarusci, New YorkGER Peter Nogly, Edmonton DYUG 1945 Mihalj Keri, Los AngelesJER Dave Huson, ChicagoSCO John Gorman, Tampa Bay DIRL Pierce O'Leary, VancouverBRA Carlos Alberto, CaliforniaGER Arno Steffenhagen, Chicago MENG Alan Hudson, SeattleUSA Juli Veee, San DiegoYUG 1945 Vladislav Bogićević, New York MNIR George Best, San JoseRSA 1928 Jomo Sono, TorontoPER Teófilo Cubillas, Fort Lauderdale MSCO Peter Lorimer, VancouverENG Duncan McKenzie, TulsaENG Brian Kidd, Atlanta FGER Karl-Heinz Granitza, ChicagoCAN Mike Stojanović, San DiegoENG Gordon Hill, Montreal FPAR Roberto Cabañas, New YorkARG Pato Margetic, ChicagoITA Giorgio Chinaglia, New York FGER Franz Gerber, CalgaryENG Alan Green, Jacksonville • RSA 1928 Steve Wegerle, New York Playoffs 15 teams qualified for the playoffs – each first and second-place team across the divisions plus the five next best teams. Division winners were seeded 1 through 5, the second-place teams were seeded 6 through 10, and the last five teams were seeded 11 through 15 regardless of division placing.Scheiber Dave NASL's playoff system hurts its credibility August 3, 1981 St. Petersburg Times https://www.newspapers.com/image/319423300/ 3C 2018-09-26 The top seed received a bye, and the remaining 14 teams paired off to play the first round. Series winners would be reseeded by season point total after each round. The 'best of two' format used from 1978 to 1980 was discarded for a more straightforward best of three games format in the first three rounds. Bracket First Round(Best-of-3) Quarterfinals(Best-of-3) Semifinals(Best-of-3) Soccer Bowl '81(Single match) 3 Vancouver 0 14 Tampa Bay 2 6 Minnesota 2 11 Tulsa 0 8 Calgary 0 9 Fort Lauderdale 2 2 Chicago 2 15 Seattle 1 7 Los Angeles 1 10 Montreal 2 4 San Diego 2 13 Portland 1 5 Atlanta 0 12 Jacksonville 2 1 New York 2 14 Tampa Bay 1 6 Minnesota 0 9 Fort Lauderdale 2 2 Chicago 2 10 Montreal 1 4 San Diego 2 12 Jacksonville 1 1 New York 2 9 Fort Lauderdale 0 2 Chicago 2 4 San Diego 1 1 New York 0 2 Chicago 1 First round Lower seedHigher seedGame 1Game 2Game 3(higher seed hosts Games 2 and 3)Tulsa Roughnecks - Minnesota Kicks 1–3 0–1 (SO, 4–5) x August 22 • Skelly Stadium • 16,205August 26 • Metropolitan Stadium • 10,722Portland Timbers - San Diego Sockers 2–1 1–5 0–2 August 22 • Civic Stadium • 16,003August 26 • Jack Murphy Stadium • 12,039August 30 • Jack Murphy Stadium • 15,244Jacksonville Tea Men - Atlanta Chiefs 3–2 (OT) 2–1 x August 23 • Gator Bowl • 9,287August 25 • Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium • 6,572Fort Lauderdale Strikers - Calgary Boomers 3–1 #2–0 x August 23 • Lockhart Stadium • 12,196#August 26 • Lockhart Stadium • 11,494Tampa Bay Rowdies - Vancouver Whitecaps 4–1 1–0 x August 23 • Tampa Stadium • 21,192August 26 • Empire Stadium • 28,896Seattle Sounders - Chicago Sting 2–3 *2–0 2–3 August 23 • Comiskey Park • 14,643*August 26 • Kingdome • 15,176August 30 • Wrigley Field • 24,080Montreal Manic - Los Angeles Aztecs 5–3 2–3 2–1 (OT) August 24 • Olympic Stadium • 46,682August 27 • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • 7,529August 30 • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • 8,812(first round bye) New York Cosmos • • • • #Due to a scheduling conflict between the Calgary Boomers and the Billy Graham Crusade, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers hosted both Games 1 and 2 (instead of Game 1 only), there-by gaining home field advantage even though they were the lower seed. Scheiber Dave Rowdies cashing in on their new underdog label September 1, 1981 St. Petersburg Times https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19810901&id=kNpaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EnsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3852,238583&hl=en 3, sec. 4 2016-07-04 *Seattle Sounders hosted Game 2 (instead of Game 1) due to a scheduling conflict with the Mariners baseball club. Conklin Mike Sting hopes for even more success in playoffs September 27, 1981 Chicago Tribune http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1981/08/23/page/55/article/sting-hopes-for-even-more-success-in-playoffs 3, sec. 4 2016-07-04 Quarterfinals Lower seedHigher seedGame 1Game 2Game 3(higher seed hosts Games 2 and 3)Tampa Bay Rowdies - New York Cosmos 3–6 3–2 (SO, 4–2) 0–2 September 2 • Tampa Stadium • 29,224September 5 • Giants Stadium • 38,691September 9 • Giants Stadium • 33,754Montreal Manic - Chicago Sting 3–2 2–4 2–4 September 2 • Olympic Stadium • 58,542September 5 • Wrigley Field • 24,648September 10 • Comiskey Park • 27,489Fort Lauderdale Strikers - Minnesota Kicks 3–1 3–0 x September 2 • Lockhart Stadium • 11,918September 6 • Memorial Stadium • 10,278Jacksonville Tea Men - San Diego Sockers 2–1 (OT) 1–2 1–3 September 2 • Gator Bowl • 12,252September 6 • Jack Murphy Stadium • 14,428September 9 • Jack Murphy Stadium • 14,015 Semifinals Lower seedHigher seedGame 1Game 2Game 3(higher seed hosts Games 2 and 3)Fort Lauderdale Strikers - New York Cosmos 3–4 1–4 x September 12 • Lockhart Stadium • 18,814September 16 • Giants Stadium • 31,172 Bonapace Ruth Chinaglia Pulls It Out Of The Hat For Cosmos September 17, 1981 Evening Independent https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19810917&id=0mhQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o1kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3234,584703&hl=en 4, sec. C 2016-07-04San Diego Sockers - Chicago Sting 2–1 1–2 0–1 (SO, 2–3) September 12 • Jack Murphy Stadium • 18,192September 16 • Comiskey Park • 21,760September 21 • Comiskey Park • 39,623 Soccer Bowl '81 Soccer Bowl '81 September 26 8:00 pm EDT Chicago Sting 1–0 (SO) https://www.newspapers.com/image/386801949 New York Cosmos Exhibition Stadium, Toronto (ON) 36,971 Dante Maglio (Canada) Margetic Spalding Peter Granitza Glenn 2–1 Seninho Chinaglia Bogićević Buljan Iarusci 1981 NASL Champions: Chicago Sting *From 1977 through 1984 the NASL had a variation of the penalty shoot-out procedure for tied matches. The shoot-out started 35 yards from the goal and allowed the player 5 seconds to attempt a shot. The player could make as many moves as he wanted in a breakaway situation within the time frame. Even though this particular match was a scoreless tie after overtime, NASL procedure also called for the box score to show an additional "goal" given to the winning team.This Day In 1981 : Soccer Bowl Edition | Chicago Fire Confidential http://www.chicagonow.com/fire-confidential/2011/09/this-day-in-1981-soccer-bowl-edition/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130920224347/http://www.chicagonow.com/fire-confidential/2011/09/this-day-in-1981-soccer-bowl-edition/ 2013-09-20 live 2013-06-21 The Year in American Soccer - 1977 http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1977.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130713134953/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1977.html 2013-07-13 dead 2013-06-21 Post season awards Most Valuable Player: ITA Giorgio Chinaglia, New York Coach of the year: USA Willy Roy, Chicago Rookie of the year: USA Joe Morrone, Jr., Tulsa North American Player of the Year: CAN Mike Stojanović, San Diegohttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1nNkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZX4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3054,3197264&dq=north+american+player+of+the+year+soccer&hl=en The Calgary Herald - Google News Archive Search Attendances Club Games Total Average New York Cosmos 16 557,713 34,857 Montreal Manic 16 379,263 23,704 Vancouver Whitecaps 16 371,783 23,236 Tampa Bay Rowdies 16 370,593 23,162 Seattle Sounders 16 291,585 18,224 Tulsa Roughnecks 16 275,012 17,188 Minnesota Kicks 16 265,672 16,605 San Diego Sockers 16 236,824 14,802 Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 16 213,178 13,324 Chicago Sting 16 206,227 12,889 San Jose Earthquakes 16 195,876 12,242 Washington Diplomats 16 193,702 12,106 Edmonton Drillers 16 170,109 10,632 Portland Timbers 16 168,259 10,516 Calgary Boomers 16 168,019 10,501 Jacksonville Tea Men 16 152,111 9,507 California Surf 16 132,777 8,299 Toronto Blizzard 16 116,590 7,287 Atlanta Chiefs 16 99,022 6,189 Los Angeles Aztecs 16 93,031 5,814 Dallas Tornado 16 74,716 4,670 Source:All-Time NASL Attendance – kenn.com blog https://kenn.com/blog/soccer/all-time-nasl-attendance-2/ 2026-07-09 en-US References External links Video of 1981 NASL goals of the year Complete Results and Standings Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) seasons Category:1981 in American soccer leagues Category:1981 in Canadian soccer