1976 New York Cosmos season

Last updated

New York Cosmos
1976 season
Manager Flag of England.svg Ken Furphy
(Until June 28)
Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Bradley [1]
(After June 28)
Stadium Yankee Stadium
NASL Division: 2nd
Overall: 2nd
Playoffs: Conf. Semifinals
National
Challenge Cup 		Did not enter
Top goalscorerLeague: Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Chinaglia (19 goals)
All: Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Chinaglia (23+ goals)
Highest home attendance28,536
vs. CHI (May 2)
Lowest home attendance6,917
vs. ROC (June 30)
Average home league attendance18,227 [2]
←  1975
1977  →

The 1976 New York Cosmos season was the sixth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' sixth year of existence the club finished second only to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in both the five-team Eastern Division and the 20-team league. The Cosmos returned to the playoffs for the first time in two years, but were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the rival Rowdies. 1976 marked the first year for Giorgio Chinaglia with the club; Chinaglia would go on to become the all-time leading scorer in both Cosmos and NASL history.

Contents

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kurt Kuykendall
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Shep Messing
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Bob Rigby
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Barry Mahy
3 DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Brian Rowan
4 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Werner Roth
5 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Keith Eddy
6 MF Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Dave Clements
7 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Tony Field
8 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Terry Garbett
9 FW Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Giorgio Chinaglia
No.Pos.NationPlayer
9 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Tommy Ord
10 FW Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Pelé
11 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jorge Siega
12 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Bobby Smith
14 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Nelsi Morais
15 MF Flag of Peru (state).svg  PER Ramon Mifflin
16 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tony Donlic
17 DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Charlie Aitken
18 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Brian Tinnion
19 DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Charlie Mitchell
20 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Mike Dillon

Source: [3]

Results

Source: [4]

Preseason

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
March 21, 1976 San Diego Jaws A1–1N/AN/A
March 28, 1976 Dallas Tornado A0–120,214N/A
March 31, 1976 San Antonio Thunder A1–020,000
April 4, 1976 Los Angeles Aztecs N0–015,000
April 7, 1976 Honda F.C. N5–0N/AN/A
April 8, 1976 Honda F.C. N5–021,705N/A
April 9, 1976 Seattle Sounders A1–258,125Pelé, Clements
April 11, 1976 Los Angeles Aztecs A0–129,232Pelé

Regular season

Pld = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
6 points for a win, 1 point for a shootout win, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each goal scored (up to three per game).

Eastern Division Standings

PosClubPldWLGFGAGDPts
1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 241865830+28154
2 New York Cosmos 241686534+31148
3 Washington Diplomats 2414104638+8126
4 Philadelphia Atoms 248163249−1780
5 Miami Toros 246182958−2963

Overall League Placing

PosClubPldWLGFGAGDPts
1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 241865830+28154
2 New York Cosmos 241686534+31148
3 Minnesota Kicks 241595433+21138
4 Chicago Sting 241595232+20132
5 Washington Diplomats 2414104638+8126

Source: [5]

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
April 18, 1976 Miami Toros A0–19,457Clements
May 2, 1976 Chicago Sting H1–228,536Pelé
May 5, 1976 Connecticut Bicentennials H3–18,439Pelé, Tinnion, Eddy
May 8, 1976 Philadelphia Atoms H1–214,287Pelé
May 15, 1976 Connecticut Bicentennials A0–38,933Field (2), Tinnion
May 17, 1976 Los Angeles Aztecs H6–024,292Eddy (2), Chinaglia (2), Pelé (2)
May 19, 1976 Boston Minutemen A1–27,367Chinaglia (2)
June 6, 1976 Tampa Bay Rowdies A5–142,611Field
June 9, 1976 Minnesota Kicks A1–246,164Chinaglia, Field
June 12, 1976 Portland Timbers A0–332,247Chinaglia (2), Eddy
June 16, 1976 Boston Minutemen H2–2 (SOL)15,101N/A
June 18, 1976 Toronto Metros-Croatia H3–018,612Tinion, Chinaglia, Clements
June 23, 1976 Chicago Sting A4–128,000Tinnion
June 27, 1976 Washington Diplomats A3–211,004Tinnion, Pelé
June 30, 1976 Rochester Lancers H2–06,917Field (2)
July 2, 1976 St. Louis Stars H3–110,123Mifflin (2), Eddy
July 7, 1976 Toronto Metros-Croatia A0–312,123N/A
July 10, 1976 Philadelphia Atoms A1–225,311Pelé, Garbett
July 14, 1976 Tampa Bay Rowdies H5–427,892Eddy, Mifflin, Field, Pelé (2)
July 18, 1976 Washington Diplomats H5–027,398Mifflin, Chinaglia (2), Pelé, Tinnion
July 23, 1976 Rochester Lancers A2–15,728Chinaglia
July 28, 1976 Dallas Tornado H4–019,119Chinaglia (3), Mifflin
August 7, 1976 San Jose Earthquakes A2–123,048Eddy
August 10, 1976 Miami Toros H8–218,103Dillon, Chinaglia (5), Pelé (2)

Postseason

Overview

First round
August 17 Washington Diplomats 0–2 New York Cosmos New York City, Shea Stadium
August 18 Los Angeles Aztecs 0–2 Dallas Tornado Irving, Texas Stadium
August 18 Vancouver Whitecaps 0–1 Seattle Sounders Seattle, Kingdome
August 18 Rochester Lancers 1–2 Toronto Metros-Croatia Toronto, Varsity Stadium
Conference semifinals
August 20 Toronto Metros-Croatia 3–2 Chicago Sting Chicago, Soldier Field
August 20 New York Cosmos 1–3 Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa, Tampa Stadium
August 20 Dallas Tornado 0–2 San Jose Earthquakes San Jose, Spartan Stadium
August 21 Seattle Sounders 0–3 Minnesota Kicks Bloomington (MN), Metropolitan Stadium
Conference Championships
August 24 Toronto Metros-Croatia 2–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa, Tampa Stadium
August 25 San Jose Earthquakes 1–3Minnesota Kicks Bloomington (MN), Metropolitan Stadium
Soccer Bowl '76
August 28 Toronto Metros-Croatia 2–0 Minnesota Kicks Seattle, Kingdome

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
August 17, 1976 Washington Diplomats H2–022,698Garbett, Pelé
August 20, 1976 Tampa Bay Rowdies A3–136,863Pelé

Friendlies

DateOpponentVenueResultAtt.AttendanceScorersRef.
March 24 Flag of the United States.svg San Diego Jaws A1–118,128 Ord [6]
March 28 Flag of the United States.svg Dallas Tornado A1–020,214 Pelé [6]
March 31 Flag of the United States.svg San Antonio Thunder A0–114,800– [6]
April 4 Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles Aztecs N [n 1] 0–015,800– [6]
April 8 Flag of Japan.svg Honda FC N [n 2] 5–021,705Pelé (4), ? [6]
April 9 Flag of the United States.svg Seattle Sounders A3–158,125Pelé (2), Clements [6]
April 11 Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles Aztecs A1–029,232Pelé [6]
June 3 Flag of Haiti.svg Violette A2–1n/an/a [6]
September 1 Flag of the United States.svg Dallas Tornado N [n 3] 2–214,000Chinaglia (2) [6]
September 5 Flag of the United States.svg Dallas Tornado N [n 4] 2–112,500 Roth, Mifflin [6]
September 6 Flag of the United States.svg Dallas Tornado N [n 5] 3–223,682Pele, Morais, Donlic [6]
September 8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Soccer CanadaA1–114,826Chinaglia [6]
September 10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Soccer CanadaA3–114,366Chinaglia (3) [6]
September 14 Flag of France.svg PSG A1–318,000 Field [6]
September 16 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Antwerp A1–325,000Pelé [6]
September 24 Flag of Japan.svg West Japan All-StarsA0–011,000n/a [6]
September 25 Flag of Japan.svg East Japan All-StarsA2–250,000 Dillon, Chinaglia [6]
Notes

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Soccer League (1968–1984)</span> Defunct major soccer league in the United States and Canada

The North American Soccer League (NASL) was the top-level major professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. It was the first soccer league to be successful on a national scale in the United States. The league final was called the Soccer Bowl from 1975 to 1983 and the Soccer Bowl Series in its final year, 1984. The league was headed by Commissioner Phil Woosnam from 1969 to 1983. The NASL laid the foundations for soccer in the United States that helped lead to the country hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the set-up of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Sting</span> Former American professional soccer team based in Chicago

The Chicago Sting (1974–1988) was an American professional soccer team representing Chicago. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1982–83 season and again from 1984 to 1988. They were North American Soccer League champions in 1981 and 1984, one of only two NASL teams to win the championship twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giorgio Chinaglia</span> Italian footballer (1947–2012)

Giorgio Chinaglia was an Italian footballer who played as a striker. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales, and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. He later returned to Italy to play for Massese, Internapoli and S.S. Lazio in 1969. Chinaglia led Lazio to the club's first league championship in the 1973–74 season, during which he was also the league's leading scorer. He played international football for Italy, making 14 appearances and scoring 4 goals between 1972 and 1975, including two appearances at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Chinaglia was the first player in Italian football history to be called up internationally from the second division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Firmani</span> Footballer (born 1933)

Edwin Ronald Firmani is a former professional football player and manager. A former forward, he spent most of his career in Italy and England. Born in South Africa, he represented the Italy national team internationally.

The 1978 North American Soccer League season was the 66th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 11th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada.

The 1979 North American Soccer League season was the 67th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer and the 12th with a national first-division league in the United States and Canada.

Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1981. This was the 14th season of the NASL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer Bowl '78</span> North American Soccer League championship final for the 1978 season

Soccer Bowl '78 was the North American Soccer League's championship final for the 1978 season. It was the fourth NASL championship under the Soccer Bowl name.

The 1977 New York Cosmos season was the seventh season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. The Cosmos' seventh year of existence saw them drop "New York" from the club name, move into Giants Stadium, and win their second NASL championship in Pelé's final year as a professional footballer. Pelé's last match was on October 1, 1977, in front of a capacity crowd at Giants Stadium: in an exhibition match between New York and his former club Santos, Pelé appeared for both sides, playing one half for each. The Cosmos won the game 2–1. The Cosmos finished second in the 4-team Eastern Division and third out of 18 teams league-wide on their way to the 1977 championship.

The 2013 North American Soccer League season was the 46th season of Division II soccer in the United States and the third season of the revived North American Soccer League. It was contested by eight teams including one from Canada. Expansion club New York Cosmos was added to the NASL during the season. A split season format was used for the first time. Puerto Rico Islanders, originally planned to take part in this season, as they did in first two editions, took the year off, due to planned restructuring. The defending Soccer Bowl champions were the Tampa Bay Rowdies, while the San Antonio Scorpions were the defending North American Supporters' Trophy winners.

The 1971 New York Cosmos season was the inaugural season for the New York Cosmos, an expansion team in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' first year of existence, the club finished 2nd in the Northern Division and 4th in the overall league table. In the playoffs, the Cosmos were eliminated by the Atlanta Chiefs in the first two games of the best-of-three semifinals.

The 1972 New York Cosmos season was the second season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' second year of existence, the club finished 1st in the Northern Division and 1st in the overall league table. In the playoffs, the Cosmos defeated the Dallas Tornado in the semifinal and the St. Louis Stars in the final, winning their first league championship and completing the first double by a club in the national era.

The 1983 New York Cosmos season was the original Cosmos franchise's thirteenth season of existence, and their thirteenth in the original North American Soccer League. At the time, the NASL represented the top tier of American soccer. Finishing the season with 194 points off of 22 wins and eight losses, the Cosmos clinched their sixth-consecutive regular season championship, and their seventh overall. In the postseason, however, the Cosmos lost to Montreal Manic.

The 1973 New York Cosmos season was the third season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' third year of existence, the club finished 2nd in the Eastern Division and 3rd in the overall league table. In the playoffs, the Cosmos were defeated in their semifinal match by the Dallas Tornado.

The 1974 New York Cosmos season was the fourth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' fourth year of existence the club finished last in the four-team Northern Division and 13th out of 15 in the overall league table, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in their short history.

The 1975 New York Cosmos season was the fifth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' fifth year of existence the club finished 3rd in the five-team Northern Division and 12th out of 20 in the overall league table. Despite Pelé joining the club midseason in what English writer Gavin Newsham said was "the transfer coup of the century," bringing unprecedented attention to soccer in the United States, the Cosmos missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

The 1978 New York Cosmos season was the eighth season for the Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. It was also the second and final year in which "New York" was dropped from their name. The double-winning club set records for most wins and points in an NASL season, thanks to their 24-6 regular-season mark and 212 points, securing their second premiership on the way to their third championship. They beat the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 7–0 on opening day and never looked back, scoring 88 times while losing just three games in regulation. Giorgio Chinaglia scored 34 goals and 79 points, setting league records in the process. In Soccer Bowl '78, the Cosmos defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies in front of 74,901 fans at Giants Stadium, still to this day a record for attendance at a North American championship soccer game.

The 1979 New York Cosmos season was the ninth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. 1979 saw the club continue their premiership streak to three seasons with the league's highest point total, and match their wins record while achieving a record point total, but the Cosmos' quest for a third straight NASL championship ended with a loss in the conference finals to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The 1982 New York Cosmos season was the 12th season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. The Cosmos completed their fourth double—a feat not matched by any NASL or, as yet, MLS club—finishing 37 points ahead of Seattle for the league premiership, and defeating the Sounders in Soccer Bowl '82 for the league championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer Bowl '81</span> Soccer match

Soccer Bowl '81 was the championship final of the 1981 NASL season, between the Chicago Sting and the New York Cosmos. The match was played on September 26, 1981 at Exhibition Stadium, in Toronto, Ontario. Following regulation and 15 minutes of golden goal overtime, the match remained tied, 0–0. With that, the game moved to a shoot-out. The Sting won the shoot-out, 2–1, and were crowned the 1981 NASL champions. This was Chicago's first NASL title.

References

  1. ↑ Bell, Jack (May 2008). "Gordon Bradley, Who Nurtured U.S. Soccer, Dies at 74". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ "North American Soccer League".
  3. ↑ "NASL New York Cosmos Rosters".
  4. ↑ "All-time American soccer statistics | SoccerStats.us".
  5. ↑ "The Year in American Soccer – 1976". Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1976 Friendlies on NASL Jerseys.com
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.