Overview of the 1990 American Professional Soccer League season. Although the Western Soccer League and the American Soccer League merged to form the American Professional Soccer League in 1990, the two leagues remained essentially independent leagues, linked by name alone. During this season, they ran separate regular season schedules with two different points systems. They each had their own playoff formats, had separate league MVPs and had their own All-League teams. The first game between the two leagues came in September when the Maryland Bays of the American Soccer League defeated the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks of the Western Soccer League for the American Professional Soccer League championship.
History On September 9, 1989, the champions of the west coast-based Western Soccer Alliance and the east coast-based American Soccer League played each other for the national championship.Fort Lauderdale Rallies to Defeat San Diego This was the first meeting between teams from the two leagues but was part of a larger effort to merge the two leagues.Two outdoor leagues plan title game for fall St. Petersburg Times - Thursday, April 13, 1989 This effort resulted in the creation of the American Professional Soccer League on February 22, 1990. The merger remained one of name only as the two leagues played separate schedules and named separate MVPs and All-League teams. However, it allowed the teams to market themselves as members of a national league.Merger forms one outdoor league The Washington Times - Friday, February 23, 1990 During the playoffs, except for the West semifinals and the APSL finals, teams played a home and away series. However, they needed to win two games, so in the case of a tie after two games, the teams played a thirty-minute mini-game. If the game remained tied, the two teams would enter a shoot out. A shoot out pitted a field player against the opposing team's goalkeeper. The field player had five seconds to take a shot on goal beginning 35 yards from the goal.
League standings
East (American Soccer League) Conference Points: Win: 3 Shoot out win: 2 Shoot out loss: 1
Northern Division
Southern Division
West (Western Soccer League) Conference Points: Win: 6 Shoot out win: 4 Shoot out loss: 2 1 bonus point per goal scored in regulation, maximum of 3 per game
North Division
South Division
East Conference playoffs
East bracket
Semifinal 1
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers advance to the East Finals.
Semifinal 2
The Maryland Bays advance to the East Finals.
Conference Finals
The Maryland Bays advance to the APSL Championship.
West Conference playoffs West bracket
First Round Series 1
The Los Angeles Heat advance to the Division Finals.
First Round Series 2
The Colorado Foxes advance to the Division Finals.
Division Finals
The Los Angeles Heat advance to the Conference Finals.
The San Francisco Bay Blackhawks advance to the Conference Finals.
Conference Finals
The San Francisco Bay Blackhawks advance to the APSL Championship.
APSL Final
The Maryland Bays win the APSL Championship.
Combined points leaders RankScorerClubGoalsAssistsPoints1 Chance Fry Seattle Storm175392 George Pastor Salt Lake Sting149373 Mike Masters Albany Capitals144324 Philip Gyau Maryland Bays126305 Derek Sanderson Salt Lake Sting 116286 Jerry O'Hara California Emperors103237 Shawn Medved Portland Timbers102228 Jean Harbor Maryland Bays86229 Jim Hutchinson Real Santa Barbara942210 Scott BenedettiSeattle Storm932111 Cesar PlasenciaReal Santa Barbara 932111 Steve PittmanFort Lauderdale Strikers772111 David ByrneTampa Bay Rowdies5102011 Steve CorpeningSan Francisco Bay Blackhawks 842011 Rob PatersonPortland Timbers 842011 Mike SweeneyBoston Bolts831911 Elvis ComrieAlbany Capitals821811 Lazlo BarnaMiami Freedom741811 Duane RobinsonPenn-Jersey Spirit5818
Honors
East (American Soccer League) Conference MVP: Philip Gyau Leading goal scorer: Mike Masters Leading goalkeeper: Dale Caya Rookie of the Year: Steve Pittman Coach of the Year: Thomas Rongen
First Team All League Goalkeeper: Dale Caya Defenders: Steve Pittman, Paul Mariner, Brian Ainscough, George Gelnovatch Midfielders: Chico Borja, Marcelo Carrera, David Byrne Forwards: Philip Gyau, Dan Donigan, Jean Harbor
Second Team All League Goalkeeper: Arnie Mausser Defenders: Jimmy McGeough, Jr., Chris Reif, Thomas Rongen, Dave Smyth Midfielders: Paul Dougherty, Eric Eichmann, Pat O'Kelly Forwards: Mike Masters, Bruce Murray, Paul Riley
West (Western Soccer League) Conference MVP: Mark Dodd Leading goal scorer: Chance Fry Leading goalkeeper: Mark Dodd
First Team All League Goalkeeper: Mark Dodd Defenders: Marcelo Balboa, John Doyle, Robin Fraser, Danny Pena Midfielders: Dominic Kinnear, Fran O'Brien, George Pastor Forwards: Chance Fry, Mark Kerlin, Townsend Qin
Second Team All League Goalkeeper: Anton Nistl Defenders: Steve Eise, Paul Krumpe, Derek Van Rheenen, Wade Webber Midfielders: John Bain, Mike Fox, Jeff Rogers, Dzung Tran Forwards: Scott Benedetti, Paul Wright
References
External links The Year in American Soccer - 1990 USA - A-League (American Professional Soccer League) (RSSSF) 1990 Western Soccer League 1990 American Soccer League