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
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. -Premiers (most points). -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 Team Position Second Team Honorable Mention Jan van Beveren, Fort Lauderdale G Hubert Birkenmeier, New York Volkmar Gross, San Diego Frantz Mathieu, Chicago D Barry Wallace, Tulsa Nick Rohmann, San Diego Wim Rijsbergen, New York D Kevin Bond, Seattle Robert Iarusci, New York Peter Nogly, Edmonton D Mihalj Keri, Los Angeles Dave Huson, Chicago John Gorman, Tampa Bay D Pierce O'Leary, Vancouver Carlos Alberto, California Arno Steffenhagen, Chicago M Alan Hudson, Seattle Juli Veee, San Diego Vladislav Bogićević, New York M George Best, San Jose Jomo Sono, Toronto Teófilo Cubillas, Fort Lauderdale M Peter Lorimer, Vancouver Duncan McKenzie, Tulsa Brian Kidd, Atlanta F Karl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago Mike Stojanović, San Diego Gordon Hill, Montreal F Roberto Cabañas, New York Pato Margetic, Chicago Giorgio Chinaglia, New York F Franz Gerber, Calgary Alan Green, Jacksonville • 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. 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 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. *Seattle Sounders hosted Game 2 (instead of Game 1) due to a scheduling conflict with the Mariners baseball club.
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 • 31,172San 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
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.
Post season awards Most Valuable Player: Giorgio Chinaglia, New York Coach of the year: Willy Roy, Chicago Rookie of the year: Joe Morrone, Jr., Tulsa North American Player of the Year: Mike Stojanović, San Diego
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:
References
External links Video of 1981 NASL goals of the year Complete Results and Standings