The NASL Championship was the annual championship competition of the North American Soccer League (NASL), which formed the second division of American soccer from 2011 to 2017. The competition was held at the end of the regular season and was contested by the two finalists of the playoffs to determine the winner of the NASL Trophy, known as the Soccer Bowl Trophy. The trophy was named for the Soccer Bowl championship game from the original incarnation of the NASL, which ran from 1967 to 1984.
Format
In the league's first two seasons, the championship final was played as a two-match aggregate series at the conclusion of a playoff bracket.
The league announced a switch for the 2013 season to a one-game championship final, also known as the "Soccer Bowl".
Beginning with the 2014 season, a new format was introduced, in which the whole playoff tournament was called the NASL Championship, with the final game being called the NASL Championship Final. From that point on, "Soccer Bowl" was only used in referring only to the physical trophy itself. This format persisted through the 2017 final, the NASL's last, as the league suspended operations shortly thereafter and went defunct the following year.
Trophy
On October 22, 2011, the day their inaugural championship series got underway in Minnesota, the new NASL unveiled its championship trophy. The silver trophy featured a large bowl etched with the NASL logo resting atop three long prongs, and the words "North American Soccer League" and "Soccer Bowl" inscribed prominently across the base.
Results NASL Championship (2011–2017) Event Game Venue Location Champions Score Runners-up Attendance Television MVP NotesNASL Championship2011(NASL Championship Series 2011) October 22, 29National Sports Center
Lockhart StadiumBlaine, Minnesota
Fort Lauderdale, FloridaNSC Minnesota Stars3–1
0–0
Aggregate3–1Fort Lauderdale Strikers4,511
6,849GOL TVLuke Mulholland(NSC Minnesota Stars)Luke Mulholland scored game one winning goal in 53rd min.NASL Championship Series2012(NASL Championship Series 2012) October 20, 27National Sports Center
Al Lang StadiumBlaine, Minnesota
St. Petersburg, FloridaTampa Bay Rowdies 0–2
3–1
Aggregate3–3(a.e.t.)PSO3–2Minnesota Stars4,642
6,208UstreamJeff Attinella(Tampa Bay Rowdies)Jeff Attinella saved 3 penalty kicks in shoot-out. Fafà Picault scored winning penalty kick.Soccer Bowl2013(Soccer Bowl 2013) November 9Atlanta Silverbacks ParkAtlanta, GeorgiaNew York Cosmos1–0Atlanta Silverbacks7,211 ESPN3ESPN Deportes Marcos Senna(New York Cosmos)Marcos Senna scored championship winning goal in the 50th min.NASL Championship Final 2014(NASL Championship Final 2014) November 15Toyota FieldSan Antonio, TexasSan Antonio Scorpions2–1Fort Lauderdale Strikers7,847 ESPN3ONE World SportsNASLLive.comKSAT12Sofloradio.com Rafael Castillo(San Antonio Scorpions)Rafael Castillo scored on a bicycle kick in the 69th min. and assisted on Billy Forbes game winner in 74th min.NASL Championship Final 2015(NASL Championship Final 2015) November 15James M. Shuart StadiumHempstead, New YorkNew York Cosmos3–2Ottawa Fury10,166 ESPN3ONE World SportsNASLLive.com Gastón Cellerino (New York Cosmos) Gastón Cellerino scored a hat trick before a modern NASL-record playoff crowd.NASL Championship Final 2016(NASL Championship Final 2016) November 15Belson StadiumQueens, New YorkNew York Cosmos0–0PSO4–2Indy Eleven2,150CBS Sports Network None NASL Championship Final 2017(NASL Championship Final 2017) November 12Kezar StadiumSan FranciscoSan Francisco Deltas2–0New York Cosmos9,691beIN SPORTS
See also Soccer Bowl MLS Cup
References
External links North American Soccer League