1980–81 NASL indoor season explained

Competition:North American Soccer League
1980–81 indoor season
Season:1980–81
Num Teams:19
Matches:171
League Topscorer: Karl-Heinz Granitza (42 goals)
Total Goals:1998
Average Attendance:5,146
Nextseason:1981–82

The 1980–81 season was the North American Soccer League's second indoor soccer season.

Overview

A total of 19 of a possible 21 NASL teams participated. New York and Montreal (who was moving from Philadelphia) were the only hold-outs this indoor season. Just as the season was getting underway, the Jacksonville Tea Men relocated from New England.[1] Teams played an 18-game regular season. The four Canadian teams were realigned into one division and forced to play only one another during the regular season. This was due to early season litigation which restricted NASL teams' travel between the U.S. and Canada.[2] [3] The Edmonton Drillers won the championship in a two-game finals-sweep of the Chicago Sting. This was the Drillers' first, and only, NASL indoor title. Kai Haaskivi of Edmonton won both the regular season and playoff MVP awards.[4] [5]

Map of clubs

Regular season

W = Wins, L = Losses, GB = Games behind 1st place, % = Winning percentage, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against[6]

Eastern DivisionWLGB%GFGA
align=left Atlanta Chiefs135– .7229775
align=left Tampa Bay Rowdies994.500126120
align=left Jacksonville Tea Men8105.44496102
align=left Fort Lauderdale Strikers1 1712.05658125
Central DivisionWLGB%GFGA
align=left Chicago Sting135– .722146103
align=left Minnesota Kicks1261.6679373
align=left Detroit Express7 116.38990106
Southern DivisionWLGB%GFGA
align=left 108– .556104118
align=left Tulsa Roughnecks991.500111113
align=left 7113.389110125
align=left San Diego Sockers6 124.333106121
Northern DivisionWLGB%GFGA
align=left Vancouver Whitecaps117– .6119196
align=left 108 1.556128109
align=left Calgary Boomers1081.55610094
align=left Toronto Blizzard5136.278101121
Western DivisionWLGB%GFGA
align=left 117– .61111899
align=left Portland Timbers1081.55611093
align=left San Jose Earthquakes1081.556118115
align=left Seattle Sounders992.50010698

NASL All-Stars

All-star selections were made, by region, by the NASL coaches and general managers. Each voter cast ballots for one goalie and five outfield players regardless of position.[7]

All-North team   Position   All-East team   Position   All-West team
Bruce Grobbelaar, Vancouver align=center GTino Lettieri, Minnesotaalign=center GMike Hewitt, San Jose
align=center –align=center DBjörn Nordqvist, Minnesota align=center DMihalj Keri, Los Angeles
Gerry Gray, Vancouveralign=center Malign=center –align=center MAlan Hudson, Seattle
Carl Valentine, Vancouveralign=center FSteve Wegerle, Tampa Bayalign=center FStuart Lee, Portland
Kai Haaskivi, Edmontonalign=center FPato Margetic, Detroitalign=center FGeorge Best, San Jose
Drew Ferguson, Edmontonalign=center FKeith Furphy, Atlantaalign=center FJuli Veee, San Diego
Juan Carlos Molina, Calgaryalign=center FKarl-Heinz Granitza, Chicagoalign=center FChris Dangerfield, Los Angeles
Bobby Prentice, Torontoalign=center F

Playoffs

1st round

If a playoff series is tied after two games, a 15 minute, tie breaker mini-game is played.

width=180Higher seedwidth=5width=180Lower seedwidth=80Game 1width=80Game 2width=80Mini-gamewidth=280Attendance
Edmonton Drillers- Los Angeles Aztecs8–3 10–6 x February 16 • L.A. Sports Arena • 1,621
February 19 • Northlands Coliseum • 4,310
Vancouver Whitecaps- California Surf0–3[8] 8–5 4–0 February 18 • Long Beach Arena • 472
February 21 • Pacific Coliseum • 8,496
Atlanta Chiefs- Minnesota Kicks10–8 5–4 (OT)x February 16 • Met Center • 6,354
February 20 • The Omni • 6,150
Chicago Sting- Portland Timbers
  1. 6–2
8–7 (OT)x February 17 • Chicago Stadium • 3,254
February 19 • Chicago Stadium • 6,286
  1. Scheduling conflicts at the Portland Coliseum forced both games to be played in Chicago.[9]

Semi-finals

width=180Higher seedwidth=5width=180Lower seedwidth=80Game 1width=80Game 2width=80Mini-gamewidth=280Attendance
Vancouver Whitecaps- Edmonton Drillers7–9 4–6 x February 24 • Northlands Coliseum • 3,420
February 28 • Pacific Coliseum • 11,758
Chicago Sting- Atlanta Chiefs8–3 5–9 4–2 February 25 • The Omni • 9,187
February 28 • Chicago Stadium • 12,376

Championship finals

width=180Higher seedwidth=5width=180Lower seedwidth=80Game 1width=80Game 2width=80Mini-gamewidth=280Attendance
Chicago Sting- Edmonton Drillers
  • 6–9
4–5 x March 2 • Edmonton Gardens • 5,089[10]
March 7 • Chicago Stadium • 16,257

Championship match reports


1980–81 NASL indoor champions: Edmonton Drillers

Post season awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tea Men are leaving N.E. for new home in Florida. The Day. Google News Archive Search. November 17, 1980. 28. October 24, 2016.
  2. Web site: Conklin. Mike. Sting may be in for a surprise in finals. Chicago Tribune. March 3, 1981. 3, Sec 5. 22 December 2016.
  3. News: Three NASL team fold . The Phoenix . 25 November 1980 . C5 . 17 December 2021.
  4. Web site: Timbers-Sounders Game Opens NASL Indoor Season. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Google News Archive Search. December 3, 1981. 15-B. October 24, 2016.
  5. News: Conklin . Mike. It's official –Arno to join Sting's uphill battle. Chicago Tribune. newspapers.com. March 7, 1981. Sec 2 p.2. January 6, 2021.
  6. 1983 Official North American Soccer League Guide
  7. News: Henderson. Jim . For Keith Bailey, The Long Wait Is Finally Over. April 21, 1981. The Tampa Tribune. 5-C. January 6, 2021.
  8. Web site: Jones. Graham L.. Surf Beats Whitecaps, 3–0. Los Angeles Times. Newspapers.com. February 19, 1981. III-12. December 20, 2016.
  9. Web site: Conklin. Mike. Sting home for playoff opener. Chicago Tribune. February 16, 1981. 3, Sec 4. 22 December 2016.
  10. Web site: live. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/sAdBFlMvZts. 2021-12-05. Kai Haaskivi 6 goals 1981 NASL Indoor Finals Edmonton Drillers . YouTube.
  11. Web site: Conklin. Mike. Finn star peppers Sting with 6 goals, Edmonton wins. Chicago Tribune. March 3, 1981. 1, Sec 5. 21 December 2016.

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