Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1971. This was the 4th season of the NASL.
Overview
Eight teams competed in the 1971 season. The Dallas Tornado won the league championship after playing several playoff matches under the new sudden death rule, which replaced the penalty shootout. In Game 1 of the best-of-three semifinal against the Rochester Lancers, league scoring champion Carlos Metidieri of Rochester scored to end the match at 2–1 in the 176th minute after six periods of overtime—shortly before midnight. Three days later, Dallas tied the series with a 3–1 regulation win. In the deciding match, the two teams ended regulation with a 1–1 tie and played four overtime periods before Bobby Moffat scored in the 148 minute for a 2–1 victory. Four days later, Dallas lost Game 1 of the NASL Championship Series, 2–1, in the 3rd overtime to the Atlanta Chiefs after 123 minutes. All totaled, Dallas had played 537 minutes of soccer (3 minutes short of six games) in 13 days. The Tornado won 4–1 in Game 2 and 2–0 in Game 3 to clinch the league championship.
Changes From the previous season Rule changes Playoffs series switched from a two-game aggregate score to a best-two-out-of-three match format. Any playoff games tied after 90 minutes would now be settled by golden goal (or sudden death) overtime periods lasting 15 minutes each.
New teams Montreal Olympique New York Cosmos Toronto Metros
Teams folding Kansas City Spurs
Teams moving None
Name changes None
Map of clubs
Regular season W = Wins, L = Losses, T= Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PT= point system
6 points for a win, 3 points for a tie, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each goal scored up to three per game. -Premiers (most points). -Other playoff teams.
Northern DivisionWLTGFGAPTRochester Lancers13 5 64831141New York Cosmos 9 1055155117Toronto Metros 5 1093247 89Montreal Olympique 4 1552959 65
Southern DivisionWLTGFGAPTAtlanta Chiefs12 7 53529120Dallas Tornado10 6 83824119Washington Darts 86 103634111St. Louis Stars 6 1353747 86
1971 NASL All-Stars
First Team Position Second Team Honorable Mention Mirko Stojanovic, Dallas G Leonel Conde, Washington Manfred Kammerer, Atlanta • Claude Campos, Rochester Dick Hall, Dallas D Clive Charles, Montreal Frank Donlavey, Washington Willie Evans, Washington D Uriel da Veiga, Atlanta Oreco, Dallas Peter Short, RochesterD John Cocking, Atlanta Gabbo Gavrić, Dallas John Best, Dallas D Charlie Mitchell, Rochester Mick Hoban, Atlanta • Roberto Lonardo, Rochester Dragan Popovic, St. Louis M Francisco Escos, Rochester Freddie Mwila, Atlanta • Barrie Lynch, Atlanta Siggy Stritzl, New York M Felix Correia, Toronto Billy Fraser, Washington • Keith Pointer, Montreal • Roy Turner, Dallas Carlos Metidieri, Rochester F Warren Archibald, Washington Tommy Youlden, Dallas Randy Horton, New York F Casey Frankiewicz, St. Louis Iris DeBrito, Rochester Kaizer Motaung, Atlanta F Franco Gallina, Montreal Mike Renshaw, Dallas Manfred Seissler, Rochester F Jorge Siega, New York Leroy DeLeon, Washington • Ian MacHattie, Toronto
Playoffs Bracket
Semifinals Higher seedSeriesLower seedGame 1Game 2Game 3AttendanceRochester Lancers 1 - 2 Dallas Tornado 2–1 (6ot) 1–3 1–2 (4ot) September 1 • Aquinas Memorial Stadium • 8,309September 4 • Franklin Stadium • 6,131September 8 • Aquinas Memorial Stadium • 7,635Atlanta Chiefs 2 - 0 New York Cosmos 1–0(3ot) 2–0 xSeptember 2 • Atlanta Stadium • 3,160September 5 • Hofstra Stadium • 3,800
NASL Final 1971
Higher seedSeriesLower seedGame 1Game 2Game 3AttendanceAtlanta Chiefs 1 - 2Dallas Tornado 2–1 (3ot) 1–4 0–2 September 12 • Atlanta Stadium • 3,218September 15 • Franklin Stadium • 6,456September 19 • Atlanta Stadium • 4,687
Game one
Game two
Game three
1971 NASL Champions: Dallas Tornado
Post season awards Most Valuable Player: Carlos Metidieri, Rochester Coach of the year: Ron Newman, Dallas Rookie of the year: Randy Horton, New York
References