The 1980 Fort Lauderdale Strikers season was the fourth season of the Fort Lauderdale Striker's team, and the club's fourteenth season in professional soccer. This year the team made it to the finals of North American Soccer League by reaching the Soccer Bowl. They were this year's Runners-up.

Background

Review

Competitions

Friendlies Fort Lauderdale finished their preseason exhibition schedule with one victory over an NCAA Division II squad, and two draws versus Peruvian First Division teams, three losses against NASL clubs and one loss to an NCAA Division II team. In April after the NASL season had begun, the Strikers easily handled the Miami Hurricanes and the junior side, Calry Bohemian FC, of Sligo, Ireland. They later fell to visiting Sunderland A.F.C. in a midseason friendly in May.

Results summaries DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersMarch 2, 1980FIU SunblazersFIU South Campus2–3???, ???March 9, 1980Miami Dade North FalconsDade North Stadium8–0 Müller (3), Bonvallet (3), Cubillas, Cacciatore March 12, 1980Detroit ExpressLeonard High School0–1March 16, 1980Detroit ExpressBryant Stadium1–2(SO)Nico BodonczyMarch 19, 1980Minnesota KicksCoral Springs High School0–1March 21, 1980Atlanta ChiefsLockhart Stadium – –MATCH CANCELEDMarch 22, 1980 Alianza LimaEstadio Alianza1–135,000 David Irving March 24, 1980 Club UniversitarioEstadio Alianza1–135,000 Gerd Müller April 14, 1980Miami HurricanesMark Light Stadium6–1 David Irving April 16, 1980 Calry Bohemian FCStrikers practice facility8–0 David Irving (3), Nico Bodonczy (2), Mike Ortiz-Velez (2)May 14, 1980 Sunderland A.F.C.Lockhart Stadium1–2 4,649Ray Hudson (pk)

NASL regular season

Results summaries

Results by round

Match reports

NASL Playoffs

Playoffs In 1979 and 1980, if a playoff series was tied at one victory each, a full 30 minute mini-game was played. If neither team held an advantage after the 30 minutes, the teams would then move on to a shoot-out to determine a series winner.

First round Lower seedHigher seedGame 1Game 2Mini-gameCalifornia Surf - Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1–2 2–0 0–1 (SO, 2–3) August 28 • Anaheim Stadium • 2,929August 31 • Lockhart Stadium • 15,282

Conference semifinals Lower seedHigher seedGame 1Game 2Mini-gameEdmonton Drillers - Fort Lauderdale Strikers 0–1 3–2 (SO, 2–1) 0 - 3 September 3 • Commonwealth Stadium • 18,029September 6 • Lockhart Stadium • 17,380

Conference Championship Lower seedHigher seedGame 1Game 2Mini-gameSan Diego Sockers - Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1–2 4–2 0–3 September 11 • San Diego Stadium • 27,635September 13 • Lockhart Stadium • 18,420

Soccer Bowl '80

Bracket

Match reports

Statistics

Transfers

References