- 1968 North American Soccer League season
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North American Soccer League Season 1968 Champions Atlanta Chiefs CONCACAF Champions' Cup Atlanta Chiefs withdrew 1969 →The 1968 North American Soccer League season was the 56th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States and Canada, and the 1st with a national first-division league with the inaugural season of the NASL.
The NASL was formed this year as a merger between the former top division soccer leagues, the United Soccer Association along with the National Professional Soccer League. In the inaugural year, Atlanta Chiefs were the champions, by winning the NASL Final 3–0 over San Diego Toros. While the Chiefs were the champions for the season, the premiers for this season were the San Diego Toros, who obtained the best regular season record.
Contents
Overview
17 teams competed in this inaugural season, and the Atlanta Chiefs won the championship.
8 came from the NPSL: Atlanta, Baltimore, Kansas City (from Chicago), New York, Oakland, St. Louis, San Diego ( from Los Angeles) and Toronto.
9 came from the USA: Boston (nickname changed), Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Vancouver (nickname shorten) and Washington.
2 teams from the NPSL folded (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh).
3 teams from the USA folded (New York, San Francisco and Toronto).
Two teams: Houston (USA) and St. Louis (NPSL) had the same nickname the "Stars".
Regular season
W = Wins, L = Losses, T= Ties GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts= 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.
Atlantic Division
Team W L T GF GA Pts Atlanta Chiefs 18 7 6 50 32 174 Washington Whips 15 10 7 50 32 167 New York Generals 12 8 12 62 54 164 Baltimore Bays 13 16 3 42 43 128 Boston Beacons 9 17 6 51 69 121 Lakes Division
Team W L T GF GA Pts Cleveland Stokers 14 7 11 62 44 175 Chicago Mustangs 13 10 9 68 68 164 Toronto Falcons 13 13 6 55 69 144 Detroit Cougars 6 21 4 65 40 88 Gulf Division
Team W L T GF GA Pts Kansas City Spurs 16 11 5 61 43 158 Houston Stars 14 12 6 58 41 150 St. Louis Stars 12 14 6 47 59 130 Dallas Tornado 2 26 4 28 109 52 Pacific Division
Team W L T GF GA Pts San Diego Toros 18 8 6 65 38 186 Oakland Clippers 18 8 6 71 38 185 Los Angeles Wolves 11 13 8 55 52 139 Vancouver Royals 12 15 5 51 60 136 Playoffs
Semifinals Finals Atl Atlanta Chiefs 1 2 3 Lak Cleveland Stokers 1 1 2 Atl Atlanta Chiefs 0 3 3 Pac San Diego Toros 0 0 0 Pac San Diego Toros 1 1 2 Gulf Kansas City Spurs 1 0 1 Semifinals
Result Game 1 Game 2 Dates Atlanta Chiefs 3 - 2 Cleveland Stokers 1 - 1 2 - 1 September 11 , 14 San Diego Toros 2 - 1 Kansas City Spurs 1 - 1 1 - 0 September 11 , 16 Final
Result Game 1 Game 2 Dates Atlanta Chiefs 3 - 0 San Diego Toros 0 - 0 3 - 0 September 21 , 28 Post season awards
- Most Valuable Player: John Kowalik, Chicago
- Coach of the year: Phil Woosnam, Atlanta
- Rookie of the year: Kaizer Motaung, Atlanta
References
North American Soccer League seasons Categories:- North American Soccer League seasons
- 1968 in association football
- 1968 in American sports
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