1977 North American Soccer League playoffs
Tournament details | |
---|---|
Country | United States Canada |
Teams | 12 |
Defending champions | Toronto Metros-Croatia |
Final positions | |
Champions | Cosmos |
Runner-up | Seattle Sounders |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 17 |
Goals scored | 54 (3.18 per match) |
Top goal scorer(s) | ![]() (9 goals) |
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.
Playoff format
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
Atlantic Conference
Eastern Division
- Fort Lauderdale Strikers – Eastern Division champions, 161 points
- Cosmos – 140 points
- Tampa Bay Rowdies – 131 points
Northern Division
- Toronto Metros-Croatia – Northern Division champions, 111 points
- St. Louis Stars – 104 points
- Rochester Lancers – 99 points
Pacific Conference
Southern Division
- Dallas Tornado – Southern Division champions, 161 points
- Los Angeles Aztecs – 147 points
- San Jose Earthquakes – 119 points
Western Division
- Minnesota Kicks – Western Division champions, 137 points
- Vancouver Whitecaps – 124 points
- Seattle Sounders – 119 points
Bracket
Template:12TeamBracket-Fédérale1
First round
Atlantic Conference
(E2) Cosmos vs. (E3) Tampa Bay Rowdies
Cosmos | 3–0 | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
---|---|---|
Pelé ![]() Chinaglia ![]() Pelé ![]() |
Report |
(N2) St. Louis Stars vs. (N3) Rochester Lancers
St. Louis Stars | 0-1(SO) | Rochester Lancers |
---|---|---|
Penalties | ||
Burnett ![]() Matteson ![]() Evans ![]() Binney ![]() |
2-4 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pacific Conference
(S2) Los Angeles Aztecs vs. (S3) San Jose Earthquakes
Los Angeles Aztecs | 2–1(OT) | San Jose Earthquakes |
---|---|---|
Best ![]() Mihailovich ![]() |
Mitic ![]() |
(W2) Vancouver Whitecaps vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders
Vancouver Whitecaps | 0–2 | Seattle Sounders |
---|---|---|
Machin ![]() Ord ![]() |
Division Finals
Atlantic Conference
(E1) Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. (E2) Cosmos
Cosmos | 8–3 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
---|---|---|
Hunt ![]() Beckenbauer ![]() Chinaglia ![]() Hunt ![]() Field ![]() Chinaglia ![]() Chinaglia ![]() Etherington ![]() |
Whittle ![]() Piper ![]() Whittle ![]() |
Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 2–3(SO) | Cosmos |
---|---|---|
Irving ![]() Whittle ![]() |
Pelé ![]() Chinaglia ![]() |
|
Penalties | ||
Piper ![]() Nanchoff ![]() Proctor ![]() |
0-3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Cosmos win series 2-0
(N1) Toronto Metros-Croatia vs. (N3) Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers | 1–0(SO) (3-2) | Toronto Metros-Croatia |
---|---|---|
Toronto Metros-Croatia | 0–1 | Rochester Lancers |
---|---|---|
Bilecki ![]() |
report | Costa ![]() Fazlić ![]() Silva ![]() |
Rochester wins series 2-0
Pacific Conference
(S1) Dallas Tornado vs. (S2) Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs | 2–1 | Dallas Tornado |
---|---|---|
Mihailovich ![]() Cohen ![]() |
Pecher ![]() |
Dallas Tornado | 1–5 | Los Angeles Aztecs |
---|---|---|
O'Hare ![]() |
Cohen ![]() Best ![]() Rys ![]() Backos ![]() Cooke ![]() |
Los Angeles wins series 2-0
(W1) Minnesota Kicks vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders
Minnesota Kicks | 1–2(OT) | Seattle Sounders |
---|---|---|
Futcher ![]() |
Ord ![]() Butler ![]() |
Seattle Sounders | 1-0 | Minnesota Kicks |
---|---|---|
Ord ![]() |
Seattle wins series 2-0
Conference Finals
Atlantic Conference
(E2) Cosmos vs. (N3) Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers | 1–2 | Cosmos |
---|---|---|
Stojanovic ![]() |
Chinaglia ![]() Hunt ![]() |
Cosmos | 4–1 | Rochester Lancers |
---|---|---|
Chinaglia ![]() Chinaglia ![]() Dimitrijevic ![]() Pelé ![]() |
Silva ![]() |
Cosmos win series 2-0
Pacific Conference
(S2) Los Angeles Aztecs vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders
Los Angeles Aztecs | 1–3 | Seattle Sounders |
---|---|---|
McAlinden ![]() |
Robertson ![]() Buttle ![]() Cave ![]() |
Seattle Sounders | 1–0 | Los Angeles Aztecs |
---|---|---|
Scott ![]() |
Seattle wins series 2-0
Soccer Bowl '77
Cosmos | 2–1 | Seattle Sounders |
---|---|---|
Hunt ![]() Chinaglia ![]() |
Ord ![]() |
References
- ^ "NASL Makes Changes In Schedule, Playoff". Evening Independent. October 15, 1976. p. 5-C. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
- ^ Saunders, Jack (August 17, 1977). "Some NASL Playoff Victories Worth More". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 5C. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
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.