Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1972. This was the 5th season of the NASL.
Overview Eight teams took part in the league with the New York Cosmos winning the championship.
Changes from previous season Rules changes The league changed its offside rule during the season on June 26. They created a "Blue Line" which was an offside line across the field, 35 yards from the goal line. Thereafter, no player could be offside unless he had crossed the 35-yard line. This made the NASL unique in the soccer world; the league received temporary approval for the change from FIFA on an experimental basis only. The league also switched the playoff format to single-match elimination contests rather than series.
New teams None
Teams folding None
Teams moving Washington Darts to Miami Gatos
Name changes None
Map of clubs
Regular season W = Wins, L = Losses, T= Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PT= point system
6 points for a win, 3 points for a tie, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each goal scored up to three per game. -Premiers (most points). -Other playoff teams.
Northern DivisionWLTGFGAPTNew York Cosmos 7 3 4 28 16 77Rochester Lancers 6 5 3 20 22 64Montreal Olympique 4 5 5 19 20 57Toronto Metros 4 6 4 18 22 53
Southern DivisionWLTGFGAPTSt. Louis Stars 7 4 3 20 14 69Dallas Tornado 6 5 3 15 12 60Atlanta Chiefs 5 6 3 19 18 56Miami Gatos 3 8 3 17 32 44
NASL All-Stars
First Team Position Second Team Honorable Mention Ken Cooper, Dallas G Dick Howard, Toronto Sam Nusum, Montreal John Best, Dallas D Dick Hall, Dallas Adolfo Gori, Rochester John Sewell, St. Louis D Clive Charles, Montreal Charlie Mitchell, Rochester Peter Short, RochesterD Wilf Tranter, St. Louis John Cocking, Atlanta Willie Evans, Miami D Brian Rowan, Toronto Joe Puls, St. Louis John Kerr, New York M Francisco Escos, Rochester Mick Hoban, Atlanta Graeme Souness, Montreal M Dave Metchick, Miami Larry Hausmann, St. Louis Pat McBride, St. Louis M Siggy Stritzl, New York Billy Fraser, Miami Randy Horton, New York F Carlos Metidieri, Rochester Mike Renshaw, Dallas Paul Child, Atlanta F Art Welch, Atlanta Warren Archibald, Miami Michael Dillon, Montreal F Jorge Siega, New York Casey Frankiewicz, St. Louis
Playoffs All playoff games in all rounds including the NASL Final were single game elimination match ups.
Bracket
Semifinals August 15Rochester Lancers0–2St. Louis StarsBusch Memorial Stadium • Att. 5,319
August 19Dallas Tornado0–1New York CosmosHofstra Stadium • Att. 5,026
NASL Final 1972
1972 NASL Champions: New York Cosmos
Post season awards Most Valuable Player: Randy Horton, New York Coach of the year: Casey Frankiewicz, St. Louis Rookie of the year: Mike Winter, St. Louis
TeamAverageSt. Louis Stars 7,773Toronto Metros 7,173Rochester Lancers 5,505Atlanta Chiefs 5,034New York Cosmos 4,282Dallas Tornado 4,093Montreal Olympique 2,308Miami Gatos 2,112
References
External links Complete Results and Standings