Wikipedia

1977 North American Soccer League playoffs

Main article: 1977 North American Soccer League season

The 1977 North American Soccer League playoffs began on August 10 and ended on August 28 with Soccer Bowl '77 at Civic Stadium in Portland, Oregon. 12 out of 18 teams qualified after a 26-match regular season, six from each conference.

1977 North American Soccer League Playoffs
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Canada
Teams12
Defending championsToronto Metros-Croatia
Final positions
ChampionsCosmos
Runner-upSeattle Sounders
Tournament statistics
Matches played17
Goals scored54 (3.18 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Italy Giorgio Chinaglia
(9 goals)
← 1976
1978 →

Playoff format edit

The top three teams in each division would quality for the playoffs, similar to the 1976 playoffs.[1] The first round and the Soccer Bowl were single games, but the division championships and conference championships were two-game series. If teams were tied at one win apiece at the conclusion of Game 2, there would be a 30-minute sudden death mini-game and a shootout if necessary.[2]

Playoff seeds edit

Atlantic Conference edit

Eastern Division edit

  1. Fort Lauderdale Strikers – Eastern Division champions, 161 points
  2. Cosmos – 140 points
  3. Tampa Bay Rowdies – 131 points

Northern Division edit

  1. Toronto Metros-Croatia – Northern Division champions, 111 points
  2. St. Louis Stars – 104 points
  3. Rochester Lancers – 99 points

Pacific Conference edit

Southern Division edit

  1. Dallas Tornado – Southern Division champions, 161 points
  2. Los Angeles Aztecs – 147 points
  3. San Jose Earthquakes – 119 points

Western Division edit

  1. Minnesota Kicks – Western Division champions, 137 points
  2. Vancouver Whitecaps – 124 points
  3. Seattle Sounders – 119 points

Bracket edit

First Round Division Championships Conference Championships Soccer Bowl '77
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3 2(0)
Cosmos 3 Cosmos 8 3(3)
Tampa Bay Rowdies 0 Cosmos 2 4
Rochester Lancers 1 1
Toronto Metros-Croatia 0(2) 0
St. Louis Stars 0(2) Rochester Lancers 1(3) 1
Rochester Lancers 1(4) Cosmos 2
Seattle Sounders 1
Dallas Tornado 1 1
Los Angeles Aztecs 2 Los Angeles Aztecs 3 5
San Jose Earthquakes 1 Los Angeles Aztecs 1 0
Seattle Sounders 3 1
Minnesota Kicks 1 0
Vancouver Whitecaps 0 Seattle Sounders 2 1
Seattle Sounders 2

First round edit

Atlantic Conference edit

(E2) Cosmos vs. (E3) Tampa Bay Rowdies edit

Cosmos3–0Tampa Bay Rowdies
Pelé   58:16' (Hunt)
Chinaglia   70:24' (Hunt, Field)
Pelé   89:51' (Hunt, Chinaglia)		 Report
Attendance: 57,828

(N2) St. Louis Stars vs. (N3) Rochester Lancers edit

St. Louis Stars0–1(SO)Rochester Lancers
Penalties
Burnett  
Matteson  
Evans  
Binney  		 2–4   Silva
  Pollihan
  Reynolds
  Pedro
  Stojanovic
Attendance: 7,137

Pacific Conference edit

(S2) Los Angeles Aztecs vs. (S3) San Jose Earthquakes edit

Los Angeles Aztecs2–1(OT)San Jose Earthquakes
Best   85:06'
Mihailovich   92:28' 		Mitic   60:57'
Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
Attendance: 4,038

(W2) Vancouver Whitecaps vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders edit

Vancouver Whitecaps0–2Seattle Sounders
Machin   18:17' (Ord)
Ord   83:34' (Robertson)
Attendance: 21,925

Division Finals edit

Atlantic Conference edit

(E1) Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. (E2) Cosmos edit

Cosmos8–3Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Hunt   1:37' (Chinaglia)
Beckenbauer   11:37' (Hunt, Field)
Chinaglia   16:19' (Beckenbauer)
Hunt   25:14'
Field   55:29' (Alberto, Roth)
Chinaglia   56:23' (Alberto)
Chinaglia   62:29' (Field)
Etherington   67:49' (Morais)		 Whittle   17:25'
Piper   63:06' (Aguirre)
Whittle   68:17'
Attendance: 77,691
Fort Lauderdale Strikers2–3(SO)Cosmos
Irving   12:45' (Hudson)
Whittle   62:15'		 Pelé   61:09'
Chinaglia   84:17' (Alberto)
Penalties
Piper  
Nanchoff  
Proctor  		 0–3   Hunt
  Sono
  Mifflin
  Garbett
Attendance: 14,152

Cosmos win series 2–0

(N1) Toronto Metros-Croatia vs. (N3) Rochester Lancers edit

Rochester Lancers1–0(SO)
(3-2)		Toronto Metros-Croatia
Attendance: 10,556
Toronto Metros-Croatia0–1Rochester Lancers
Bilecki   78:35' report Costa   19:32'
Fazlić   43:56'
Silva   78:35'
Attendance: 8,362
Referee: John Davies (England)

Rochester wins series 2–0

Pacific Conference edit

(S1) Dallas Tornado vs. (S2) Los Angeles Aztecs edit

Los Angeles Aztecs2–1Dallas Tornado
Mihailovich   23:12' (Best)
Cohen   77:05' (Mihailovich)		 Pecher   43:24' (Ryan)
Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
Attendance: 5,295
Dallas Tornado1–5Los Angeles Aztecs
O'Hare   72:13' Cohen   40:30' (Best)
Best   66:55' (Mihailovich)
Rys   78:04'
Backos   80:46'
Cooke   81:33' (Best)
Attendance: 18,489

Los Angeles wins series 2–0

(W1) Minnesota Kicks vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders edit

Minnesota Kicks1–2(OT)Seattle Sounders
Futcher   81:31' (Price, West) Ord   86:24' (Butler)
Butler   90:21'
Attendance: 35,889
Seattle Sounders1–0Minnesota Kicks
Ord   58:28' (pen.)
Attendance: 42,091

Seattle wins series 2–0

Conference Finals edit

Atlantic Conference edit

(E2) Cosmos vs. (N3) Rochester Lancers edit

Rochester Lancers1–2Cosmos
Stojanovic   16:50' (Costa, Escos) Chinaglia   39:50' (Pelé, Field)
Hunt   42:45' (Pelé)
Attendance: 20,005
Cosmos4–1Rochester Lancers
Chinaglia   16:05' (Hunt)
Chinaglia   22:59' (Hunt)
Dimitrijevic   47:33' (Pelé)
Pelé   59:11'		 Silva   53:41' (Pedro)
Attendance: 73,669

Cosmos win series 2–0

Pacific Conference edit

(S2) Los Angeles Aztecs vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders edit

Los Angeles Aztecs1–3Seattle Sounders
McAlinden   15:33' (Cooke) Robertson   38:45'
Buttle   62:47' (McAlister)
Cave   66:23' (Robertson)
Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
Attendance: 9,115
Seattle Sounders1–0Los Angeles Aztecs
Scott   13:29' (Robertson)
Attendance: 56,256

Seattle wins series 2–0

Soccer Bowl '77 edit

Main article: Soccer Bowl '77
Cosmos2–1Seattle Sounders
Hunt   19:05'
Chinaglia   77:19' (Hunt)		 Ord   23:13' (Cave)
Attendance: 35,548
Referee: Toros Kibritjan (USA)

References edit

  1. ^ "NASL Makes Changes In Schedule, Playoff". Evening Independent. October 15, 1976. p. 5-C. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  2. ^ Saunders, Jack (August 17, 1977). "Some NASL Playoff Victories Worth More". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 5C. Retrieved April 8, 2015.

Henderson, Jim (1978). Volkswagen 1978 Pro Soccer Guide. Tampa, Florida: Snibbe Publications.

1979 Official North American Soccer League Guide. New York: North American Soccer League. 1979.

Jose, Colin (1989). NASL: A Complete Record of the North American Soccer League. Derby, England: Breedon Books.

Jose, Colin (2003). North American Soccer League Encyclopedia. Haworth, New Jersey: St. Johann Press.

External links edit

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