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 Cosmos | 2–1 | St. Louis Stars |
|---|---|---|
Horton  5'Jelínek 86' (pen.) | Report 1 Report 2 | Frankiewicz 52' (Sewell) |
       NY Cosmos [8] |      SL Stars [9] |
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1972 NASL Champions: New York Cosmos
Man of the Match: |
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 |
