NASL Final 1972
Hofstra Stadium hosted the Final
EventNASL Final
New York Cosmos St. Louis Stars
2 1
DateAugust 26, 1972 (1972-08-26)
VenueHofstra Stadium, Hempstead, New York
RefereeRoger Schott (United States)
Attendance6,102

The 1972 NASL Final was the championship match of the 1972 season, between the New York Cosmos and the St. Louis Stars. The match was played on August 26, 1972 at Hofstra Stadium, in Hempstead, New York. The New York Cosmos won the match, 2–1, and were crowned the 1972 NASL champions.[1][2]

Background

St. Louis Stars

The St. Louis Stars qualified for the playoffs by winning the Southern Division with 69 points. This guaranteed them at least one home playoff game. They defeated the 1970 champions, the Rochester Lancers, 2–0, in a semifinal game played on August 15, 1972 to advance to the final.

New York Cosmos

The New York Cosmos qualified for the playoffs by winning the Northern Division with 77 points. They also had the highest point-total in the NASL, and therefore were guaranteed home field throughout the playoffs. They defeated the defending champion Dallas Tornado, 1–0, in a semifinal game played on August 19, 1972 to advance to the final.

Game summary

The Cosmos took an early lead after league MVP Randy Horton headed winger Roby Young's corner kick off the crossbar and in at 4:23. The lead would be last through the intermission, until Casey Frankiewicz, the Stars' player/coach, tied the game seven minutes after the restart.[3] Frankiewicz's goal was the source of some controversy as referee Roger Schott initially ruled the play offside. Multiple Stars players appealed to linesman Bill Maxwell who ruled the play good. Schott subsequently reversed his decision and allowed the goal to stand.[4]

Late in the rain-soaked game[5] with New York applying pressure, Cosmos' midfielder John Kerr was fouled in the penalty area by St. Louis defender Gary Rensing. Schott promptly awarded New York a penalty, which Josef Jelínek buried at 4:19 from time. Two minutes later with tempers flaring, as St. Louis pressed for the equalizer, Cosmos defender Werner Roth was sent off, leaving New York a man short for the final two minutes of the match. In a furious push at the end, forward Willy Roy found the net for St. Louis with only thirteen second remaining. Like before, Roger Schott again ruled the Stars offside. But unlike the previous occasion, the Stars' appeals to both the referee and linesman fell on deaf ears this time, giving New York the title.

Championship results

New York Cosmos2–1St. Louis Stars
Horton 5'
Jelínek 86' (pen.)		 Report 1
Report 2		 Frankiewicz 52' (Sewell)
Attendance: 6,102[6]
Referee: Roger Schott (United States)[7]
NY Cosmos[8]
SL Stars [9]
GK0England Richard Blackmore
DF19Poland Karol Kapienski
DF4United States Werner RothRed card 88'
DF22Poland Dieter Zajdel
DF2United States Barry Mahy (c)
MF6Canada John Kerr
MF15United States Sigi Stritzl
MF10Czechoslovakia Josef Jelínekdownward-facing red arrow
FW16Bermuda Randy HortonYellow card
FW17Ghana Willie Mfumdownward-facing red arrow
FW8Israel Roby Young
Substitutes:[10]
FW20Trinidad and Tobago Everald Cummingsupward-facing green arrow
DF24United States Gordon Bradleyupward-facing green arrow
Manager:
United States Gordon Bradley
GK1United States Mike Winter
DF2England John Sewell
DF3England Wilf Tranter
DF15United States Steve Frankdownward-facing red arrow
DF5Poland Joe Puls
MF8United States Pat McBride
MF16United States Gary Rensing
MF7United States Larry Hausmann
FW11Poland Casey Frankiewicz
FW20United States Gene Geimer
FW10United States Willy Roy
Substitutes:[11]
MF19Ghana Yao Kankamupward-facing green arrow
Manager:
Poland Casey Frankiewicz

1972 NASL Champions: New York Cosmos

Man of the Match:

Assistant referees:
United States Bill Maxwell
United States Bob Sumpter

Statistics

Statistic[12] New York St. Louis
Goals scored 2 1
Total shots 28 23
Shots on target 9 8
Saves 7 7
Corner kicks 5 10
Fouls 20 19
Offsides 1 3
Yellow cards 1 0
Red cards 1 0

See also

References

  1. ↑ NASL. "NASLSoccerBowl - History - Past Winner". North American Soccer League.
  2. ↑ NASL. "NASL 1968-1984 - Yearly Result". North American Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Bitter End". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 27, 1972. p. 6C. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Cosmos defeat Stars to win NASL title". Montreal Gazette. August 28, 1972. p. 25. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  5. ↑ Cosmos on NASL jersey
  6. ↑ "The Year in American Soccer - 1972". Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  7. ↑ Flachsbart, Harold (August 27, 1972). "Stars Lose Title Match". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 1C. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  8. ↑ Comos jersey on NASL Jerseys website
  9. ↑ Stars jersey on NASL Jerseys
  10. ↑ Jose, Colin (2003). North American Soccer League Encyclopedia. Haworth, NJ: St. Johann Press. p. 379.
  11. ↑ Jose, Colin (1989). NASL: A Complete Record of the North American Soccer League. Derby, England: Breedon Books. pp. 92, 94.
  12. ↑ "Bitter End". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 27, 1972. p. 6C. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
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