1981 North American Soccer League season


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

Overview

There were a total of 21 teams participating. Three teams folded, while four others moved to new cities. Playoff series were switched from the two matches plus a mini-game tiebreaker used since 1977, to a best-of-three full matches played on three separate dates. The Chicago Sting defeated the New York Cosmos in Soccer Bowl '81 on September 26 to win the championship.
When Major League Baseball players went on strike on June 12, there was speculation that other sports, especially soccer, would see larger crowds. However, the 157 NASL matches played during the baseball work stoppage drew an average attendance of only 13,419, less than the full-season average of 14,084.

Changes from the previous season

New teams

W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PT= point system
6 points for a win in regulation and overtime, 4 point for a shootout win,
0 points for a loss,
1 bonus point for each regulation goal scored, up to three per game.
Eastern DivisionWLGFGAPT
New York Cosmos2398049200
Montreal Manic15176357141
Washington Diplomats15175958135
Toronto Blizzard725398277

Southern DivisionWLGFGAPT
Atlanta Chiefs17156260151
Fort Lauderdale Strikers18145446144
Jacksonville Tea Men18145146141
Tampa Bay Rowdies15176364139

Central DivisionWLGFGAPT
Chicago Sting2398450195
Minnesota Kicks19136357163
Tulsa Roughnecks17156049154
Dallas Tornado527277154

Western DivisionWLGFGAPT
San Diego Sockers21116749173
Los Angeles Aztecs19135355160
California Surf11216077117
San Jose Earthquakes11214478108

Northwest DivisionWLGFGAPT
Vancouver Whitecaps21117443186
Calgary Boomers17155954151
Portland Timbers17155249141
Seattle Sounders15176062137
Edmonton Drillers12206079123

NASL All-Stars

First TeamPositionSecond TeamHonorable Mention
Jan van Beveren, Fort LauderdaleG Hubert Birkenmeier, New York Volkmar Gross, San Diego
Frantz Mathieu, ChicagoD Barry Wallace, Tulsa Nick Rohmann, San Diego
Wim Rijsbergen, New YorkD Kevin Bond, Seattle Robert Iarusci, New York
Peter Nogly, EdmontonD Mihalj Keri, Los Angeles Dave Huson, Chicago
John Gorman, Tampa BayD Pierce O'Leary, Vancouver Carlos Alberto, California
Arno Steffenhagen, ChicagoM Alan Hudson, Seattle Juli Veee, San Diego
Vladislav Bogićević, New YorkM George Best, San Jose Jomo Sono, Toronto
Teófilo Cubillas, Fort LauderdaleM Peter Lorimer, Vancouver Duncan McKenzie, Tulsa
Brian Kidd, AtlantaF Karl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago Mike Stojanović, San Diego
Gordon Hill, MontrealF Roberto Cabañas, New York Pato Margetic, Chicago
Giorgio Chinaglia, New YorkF Franz Gerber, Calgary Alan Green, Jacksonville • Steve Wegerle, New York

Playoffs

15 teams qualified for the playoffs – each first and second-place team across the divisions plus the five next best teams. Division winners were seeded 1 through 5, the second-place teams were seeded 6 through 10, and the last five teams were seeded 11 through 15 regardless of division placing. The top seed received a bye, and the remaining 14 teams paired off to play the first round. Series winners would be reseeded by season point total after each round.
The 'best of two' format used from 1978 to 1980 was discarded for a more straightforward best of three games format in the first three rounds.

Bracket

First round

#Due to a scheduling conflict between the Calgary Boomers and the Billy Graham Crusade, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers hosted both Games 1 and 2, there-by gaining home field advantage even though they were the lower seed.
*Seattle Sounders hosted Game 2 due to a scheduling conflict with the Mariners baseball club.

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Soccer Bowl '81

1981 NASL Champions: Chicago Sting
*From 1977 through 1984 the NASL had a variation of the penalty shoot-out procedure for tied matches. The shoot-out started 35 yards from the goal and allowed the player 5 seconds to attempt a shot. The player could make as many moves as he wanted in a breakaway situation within the time frame. Even though this particular match was a scoreless tie after overtime, NASL procedure also called for the box score to show an additional "goal" given to the winning team.

Post season awards