NASL Final 1968

NASL Final 1968
	Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium hosted the second leg of the Final
Event	NASL Final
	on aggregate
First leg
Date	September 21, 1968
Venue	Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California
Referee	Reg Clark (Canada)
Attendance	9,360
Second leg
Date	September 28, 1968
Venue	Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Referee	Jim Carr (England)
Attendance	14,994
	← 1967 1970 →

NASL Final 1968 was the North American Soccer League's postseason championship final of the 1968 season,^[2] and the first championship final for the NASL. The event was contested in a two-game aggregate match between the Atlanta Chiefs and the San Diego Toros. The first leg was played to a, 0–0, draw on September 21, 1968, at Balboa Stadium in San Diego, California. The return leg was contested on September 28, 1968, at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia with the Chiefs winning by the score of 3–0. After the two-day competition was completed, the Atlanta Chiefs held a 3–0 aggregate lead and were crowned the 1968 NASL champions.^[3]^[4]

Background

The Atlanta Chiefs qualified for the playoffs by virtue of winning the Atlantic Division with 174 points. They faced the Lakes Division champion Cleveland Stokers in a two-game aggregate match for the Eastern Conference championship. The first game was played on September 11 and ended in a, 1–1, draw. The second leg, played on September 14, also finished regulation at 1–1, but the Chiefs were able to score in overtime to win the Eastern Conference title and advance to the finals.^[5]

The San Diego Toros qualified for the playoffs by virtue of winning the Pacific Division with 186 points. They faced the Gulf Division champion Kansas City Spurs in a two-game aggregate match for the Western Conference championship. Like the other match played that day, the first leg ended in a, 1–1, draw on September 11. After 90 minutes of regulation the second leg ended with neither team able to score. The September 16 match moved into overtime, and then into a second overtime before Toros' reserve Novak Tomić scored in 118th minute to end it. The victory gave San Diego the Western Conference title and advanced them to the finals.^[5]^[6]

Series summary

Champion	Runner-up	Game 1	Venue 1	Game 2	Venue 2	Agg.
Atlanta Chiefs	San Diego Toros	0–0	Balboa Stadium	3–0	Atlanta Stadium	3–0

Match details

First leg

September 21^[7]

1:00 p.m. (PST)

San Diego Toros	0–0	Atlanta Chiefs
	Report

Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California

Attendance: 9,360

Referee: Reg Clark (Canada)

Assistant referees:
Artie Wachter
John Greenhalgh^[8]

Television: CBS
Announcers: Mario Machado, Clive Toye

Second leg

September 28^[9]

4:00 p.m. (EDT)

Atlanta Chiefs	3–0	San Diego Toros
McParland 23' Scott 43' Motaung 80'	Report

Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Attendance: 14,994

Referee: Jim Carr (England) ^[10]

Atlanta Chiefs ^[11]^[12]^[13]

San Diego Toros ^[14]^[13]

1968 NASL Champions: Atlanta Chiefs
Assistant referees:

Television: CBS
Announcers: Mario Machado, Clive Toye

Match statistics

First Leg^[15]
Statistic	San Diego	Atlanta
Goals scored	0	0
Total shots	18	12
Shots on target	2	5
Saves	5	2
Corner kicks	?	?
Fouls	?	?
Yellow cards	?	?
Red cards	0	0

Second Leg^[16]
Statistic	San Diego	Atlanta
Goals scored	0	3
Total shots	15	11
Shots on target	1	6
Saves	3	1
Corner kicks	5	7
Fouls	18	33
Yellow cards	0	0
Red cards	0	0

References

^ "San Diego Toros All-time Game Results | SoccerStats.us".
^ History: 1968-1984 on NASL website
^ NASL. "NASLSoccerBowl - History - Past Winner". North American Soccer League.
^ NASL. "NASL 1968-1984 - Yearly Result". North American Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Soccer history: Atlanta Chiefs by Clemente Lisi on US Soccer Players, 20 Aug 2018
^ The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search
^ Rome News-Tribune - Google News Archive Search
^ North American Soccer League Championship, Leg 1 program, published September 1968
^ Dial, Tom (September 28, 1968). "Chiefs Battle Toros For NASL Title". Atlanta Constitution. p. 8. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
^ Past winners on NASL Soccer Bowl (archived, November 5, 2013)
^ Chiefs 1968 on NASL Jerseys
^ NASL Soccer North American Soccer League Players-Delroy Scott
^ ^a ^b Toros 1968 on NASL jerseys
^ Toros 1968 home
^ "ATLANTA, TOROS BATTLE TO 0-0 TIE". Kansas City Star. September 22, 1968. p. 13S. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
^ Heyland, Frank (September 29, 1968). "Chiefs Win U.S. Crown". Atlanta Constitution. p. 13C. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

[1] "San Diego Toros All-time Game Results | SoccerStats.us".

[2] History: 1968-1984 on NASL website

[3] NASL. "NASLSoccerBowl - History - Past Winner". North American Soccer League.

[4] NASL. "NASL 1968-1984 - Yearly Result". North American Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013.

[hist-5] Soccer history: Atlanta Chiefs by Clemente Lisi on US Soccer Players, 20 Aug 2018

[6] The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search

[7] Rome News-Tribune - Google News Archive Search

[8] North American Soccer League Championship, Leg 1 program, published September 1968

[9] Dial, Tom (September 28, 1968). "Chiefs Battle Toros For NASL Title". Atlanta Constitution. p. 8. Retrieved November 29, 2019.

[10] Past winners on NASL Soccer Bowl (archived, November 5, 2013)

[11] Chiefs 1968 on NASL Jerseys

[12] NASL Soccer North American Soccer League Players-Delroy Scott

[autogenerated1-13] Toros 1968 on NASL jerseys

[14] Toros 1968 home

[15] "ATLANTA, TOROS BATTLE TO 0-0 TIE". Kansas City Star. September 22, 1968. p. 13S. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

[16] Heyland, Frank (September 29, 1968). "Chiefs Win U.S. Crown". Atlanta Constitution. p. 13C. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

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v t e North American Soccer League (1968–1984)
Broadcasters USSF CSA Portal NASL (2011–2017) First overall draft picks
Seasons	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Soccer Bowls	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Predecessors	USA 1967 Final NPSL 1967 Final
Indoor seasons	1971 1975 1976 1978 1979 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1983 1983–84
Conferences	1968 East West 1976–1977 Atlantic Pacific 1978–1980 American National
Related	Soccer Bowl broadcasters NASL Indoor Championship
Clubs	Atlanta Apollos Atlanta Chiefs Baltimore Bays Baltimore Comets Boston Beacons Boston Minutemen Boston Shamrock Rovers† Calgary Boomers California Surf Chicago Mustangs Chicago Spurs² Chicago Sting Cleveland Stokers Caribous of Colorado Connecticut Bicentennials Dallas Tornado Denver Dynamos Detroit Cougars Detroit Express Edmonton Drillers Fort Lauderdale Strikers Golden Bay Earthquakes Hartford Bicentennials Houston Hurricane Houston Stars Jacksonville Tea Men Kansas City Spurs Las Vegas Quicksilvers Los Angeles Aztecs Los Angeles Wolves Memphis Rogues Miami Gatos Miami Toros Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Strikers Montreal Manic Montreal Olympique New England Tea Men New York Cosmos New York Generals New York Skyliners¹ Oakland Clippers Oakland Stompers Philadelphia Spartans² Philadelphia Atoms Philadelphia Fury Pittsburgh Phantoms² Portland Timbers Rochester Lancers San Antonio Thunder San Diego Jaws San Diego Sockers San Diego Toros San Francisco Golden Gate Gales¹ San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders St. Louis Stars Tampa Bay Rowdies Team America Team Hawaii Toronto Blizzard Toronto City¹ Toronto Metros Toronto Metros-Croatia Tulsa Roughnecks Vancouver Royals Vancouver Whitecaps Washington Darts Washington Diplomats Washington Whips
¹ United Soccer Association team that did not join NASL upon merger with NPSL. ² National Professional Soccer League team that did not join NASL upon merger with USA.