1972 North American Soccer League season Soccer league season
Football league season
Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1972. This was the 5th season of the NASL.
Overview
Eight teams took part in the league with the New York Cosmos winning the championship .
Changes from previous season
Rules changes
The league changed its offside rule during the season on June 26. They created a "Blue Line" which was an offside line across the field, 35 yards from the goal line. Thereafter, no player could be offside unless he had crossed the 35-yard line. This made the NASL unique in the soccer world; the league received temporary approval for the change from FIFA on an experimental basis only. The league also switched the playoff format to single-match elimination contests rather than series.[ 1]
New teams
Teams folding
Teams moving
Washington Darts to Miami Gatos
Name changes
Map of clubs
Northern Division
Southern Division
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.
NASL All-Stars
First Team[ 2] [ 3]
Position
Second Team
Honorable Mention
Ken Cooper , Dallas
G
Dick Howard , Toronto
Sam Nusum , Montreal
John Best , Dallas
D
Dick Hall , Dallas
Adolfo Gori , Rochester
John Sewell , St. Louis
D
Clive Charles , Montreal
Charlie Mitchell , Rochester
Peter Short , Rochester
D
Wilf Tranter , St. Louis
John Cocking , Atlanta
Willie Evans , Miami
D
Brian Rowan , Toronto
Joe Puls , St. Louis
John Kerr , New York
M
Francisco Escos , Rochester
Mick Hoban , Atlanta
Graeme Souness , Montreal
M
Dave Metchick , Miami
Larry Hausmann , St. Louis
Pat McBride , St. Louis
M
Siggy Stritzl , New York
Billy Fraser , Miami
Randy Horton , New York
F
Carlos Metidieri , Rochester
Mike Renshaw , Dallas
Paul Child , Atlanta
F
Art Welch , Atlanta
Warren Archibald , Miami
Michael Dillon , Montreal
F
Jorge Siega , New York
Casey Frankiewicz , St. Louis
Playoffs
All playoff games in all rounds including the NASL Final were single game elimination match ups.
Bracket
Semifinals
NASL Final 1972
1972 NASL Champions: New York Cosmos
Post season awards
References
External links
Seasons Soccer Bowls Predecessors Indoor seasons Conferences Related Clubs