1977 New York Cosmos season

Last updated

Cosmos
1977 season
Manager Gordon Bradley [1]
(Until July 7)
Eddie Firmani [2]
(After July 7)
Stadium Giants Stadium
NASL Division: 2nd
Overall: 3rd
Playoffs:Champions
National
Challenge Cup 		Did not enter
Top goalscorerLeague: Giorgio Chinaglia (15 goals)
All: Giorgio Chinaglia (42+ goals)
Highest home attendance77,691
vs. Fort Lauderdale (August 14)
Lowest home attendance7,212
vs. Victory Sportif Club (April 2)
Average home league attendance34,142 [3]
←  1976
1978  →

The 1977 New York Cosmos season was the seventh season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. The Cosmos' seventh year of existence saw them drop "New York" from the club name (it would be restored in 1979), move into Giants Stadium (where they would play until their dissolution in 1985), and win their second NASL championship in Pelé's final year as a professional footballer. Pelé's last match was on October 1, 1977, in front of a capacity crowd at Giants Stadium: in an exhibition match between New York and his former club Santos, Pelé appeared for both sides, playing one half for each. The Cosmos won the game 2–1. [4] The Cosmos finished second in the 4-team Eastern Division and third out of 18 teams league-wide on their way to the 1977 championship.

Contents

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Shep Messing
2 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Robert Iarusci
2 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Bruce Twamley
3 MF Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  YUG Vito Dimitrijevic
4 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Werner Roth
5 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Keith Eddy
6 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Franz Beckenbauer
7 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Tony Field
8 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Terry Garbett
9 FW Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Giorgio Chinaglia
10 FW Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Pelé
11 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Steve Hunt
12 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Bobby Smith
14 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Nelsi Morais
No.Pos.NationPlayer
15 MF Flag of Peru (state).svg  PER Ramon Mifflin
16 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tony Donlic
17 DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Charlie Aitken
18 FW Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  YUG Jadranko Topić
19 GK Flag of Turkey.svg  TUR Erol Yasin
20 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Mike Dillon
21 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gary Etherington
22 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Jomo Sono
23 DF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Rildo
25 DF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Carlos Alberto
26 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Paul Hunter
28 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tommy Lang
33 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Chris Agoliati
34 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Roberto de Oliveira

Source: [5]

Results

Source: [6]

Preseason

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
March 11, 1977 Flag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda U23 A0–4626Chinaglia (4)
March 13, 1977 Flag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda A0–13,769Chinaglia
March 19, 1977 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Xamax A1–03,000
March 20, 1977 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Zürich A3–17,000Chinaglia
March 24, 1977 Flag of Italy.svg Lazio A1–220,000Chinaglia, N/A
April 2, 1977 Flag of Haiti.svg Victory H9–07,212Chinaglia (5), Field, Garbett, Pelé (2)
April 3, 1977 Flag of the United States.svg Tampa Bay Rowdies H2–111,098Chinaglia, Dimitrijevic

Regular season

Pld = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
6 points for a win, 1 point for a shootout win, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each goal scored (up to three per game).

Eastern Division Standings

PosClubPldWLGFGAGDPts
1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 261974929+20161
2 Cosmos 2615116039+21140
3 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2614125545+10131
4 Washington Diplomats 2610163249-1792

Overall League Placing

PosClubPldWLGFGAGDPts
1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 261974929+20161
2 Dallas Tornado 261885637+19161
3 Cosmos 2615116039+21140
4 Minnesota Kicks 2616104436+8137
5 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2614125545+10131

Source: [7]

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
April 9, 1977 Las Vegas Quicksilvers A1-011,896
April 13, 1977 Team Hawaii A1-212,877Topic, Hunt
April 17, 1977 Rochester Lancers H2-026,752Chinaglia, Pelé
April 24, 1977 Dallas Tornado H1-1 (SOL)13,527Smith
May 1, 1977 St. Louis Stars H2-2 (SOL)20,112Dillon, Morais
May 8, 1977 Connecticut Bicentennials A2-317,302Chinaglia, Eddy, Dimitrijevic
May 11, 1977 Chicago Sting A1-221,108OG, Dimitrijevic
May 15, 1977 Fort Lauderdale Strikers H3-021,782Pelé (3)
May 22, 1977 Chicago Sting H1-220,407Chinaglia
May 29, 1977 Tampa Bay Rowdies A4-245,288Beckenbauer, Field
June 5, 1977 Toronto Metros-Croatia H6-031,208Sono, Chinaglia (2), Hunt (3)
June 8, 1977 Fort Lauderdale Strikers A0-314,358Beckenbauer, Pelé, Chinaglia
June 12, 1977 Minnesota Kicks H1-1 (SOW)36,816Chinaglia
June 16, 1977 Toronto Metros-Croatia A1-221,793Field, Chinaglia
June 19, 1977 Tampa Bay Rowdies H3-162,394Pelé (3)
June 23, 1977 St. Louis Stars A2-032,605
June 26, 1977 Los Angeles Aztecs H5-257,191Pelé (3), Mifflin, Dimitrijevic
June 30, 1977 Vancouver Whitecaps A5-330,277Roth, Chinaglia, Field
July 2, 1977 Los Angeles Aztecs A4-132,165Chinaglia
July 6, 1977 San Jose Earthquakes H3-031,875Hunt, Dimitrijevic, Field
July 10, 1977 Seattle Sounders H1-041,270
July 15, 1977 Rochester Lancers A0-0 (SOL)17,572
July 17, 1977 Portland Timbers H2-041,205Hunt, Chinaglia
July 27, 1977 Washington Diplomats H8-234,189Beckenbauer (2), Chinaglia (3),
Hunt (2), Field
July 31, 1977 Connecticut Bicentennials H3-146,389Chinaglia, Pelé, Field
August 6, 1977 Washington Diplomats A2-131,283Pelé

Postseason

Overview

First round
August 10 San Jose Earthquakes 1–2 Los Angeles Aztecs Los Angeles, Memorial Coliseum
August 10 Tampa Bay Rowdies 0–3 Cosmos New York City, Yankee Stadium
August 10 Rochester Lancers 1–0 St. Louis Stars St. Louis, Busch Memorial
August 10 Seattle Sounders 2–0 Vancouver Whitecaps Burnaby (BC), Swangard Stadium
Conference semifinals
Game 1Game 2
Cosmos - Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 8 - 33 - 2August 14, 17
Los Angeles Aztecs - Dallas Tornado 3 - 15 - 1August 14, 17 1977
Minnesota Kicks - Seattle Sounders 1 - 20 - 1August 14, 17
Rochester Lancers - Toronto Metros-Croatia 1 - 01 - 0August 14, 17
Conference Championships
Game 1Game 2
Los Angeles Aztecs - Seattle Sounders 1 - 30 - 1August 21, 25
Rochester Lancers - Cosmos 1 - 21 - 4August 21, 24
Soccer Bowl '77
August 28 Cosmos 2–1 Seattle Sounders Portland (OR), Civic Stadium

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
August 10, 1977 Tampa Bay Rowdies H3-057,828Pelé (2), Chinaglia
August 14, 1977 Fort Lauderdale Strikers H8-377,691Chinaglia (3), Hunt (2), Etherington,
Beckenbauer, Field
August 17, 1977 Fort Lauderdale Strikers A2-2 (SOW)14,152Pelé, Chinaglia
August 21, 1977 Rochester Lancers A1-220,005Hunt, Chinaglia
August 24, 1977 Rochester Lancers H4-173,669Chinaglia (2), Pelé, Dimitrijevic
August 28, 1977 Seattle Sounders N2-135,548Hunt, Chinaglia

Friendlies

Pele's farewell at Giants Stadium, Cosmos 2 v Santos FC 1 Pele cosmos vs santos.jpg
Pelé's farewell at Giants Stadium, Cosmos 2 v Santos FC 1
Fltr: Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, Bellini, Mauro, Bobby Moore, the captains of World Cup champion squads during Pele's farewell Pele farewell captains.jpg
Fltr: Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, Bellini, Mauro, Bobby Moore, the captains of World Cup champion squads during Pelé's farewell
DateOpponentVenueResultAtt.Scorers
March 11 Flag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda U23A4–0626Chiaglia (4)
March 13Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda A1–03,769Chiaglia
March 19 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Neuchâtel A0–13,000–
March 20 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg FC Zürich A1–37,000Chinaglia
March 24 Flag of Italy.svg Lazio A2–115,000Chinaglia, Hunt
April 2 Flag of Haiti.svg Victory A9–015,000Chinaglia (4), Pelé, Field, Garbett, Sono
April 3 Flag of the United States.svg Tampa Bay Rowdies A2–111,098Chinaglia, Dimitrijevic
June 1 Flag of Italy.svg Lazio H3–225,803Chinaglia, Rildo, Wilson
September 1Flag of CARICOM.svg Caribbean All-StarsA5–230,000Dimitrijevic, Chinaglia, Topic, Pelé
September 4 Flag of Venezuela (state).svg Portuguesa A1–115,000Smith
September 10 Flag of Japan.svg Furukawa A4–230,000Chinaglia, Field, Pelé
September 14Flag of Japan.svg  Japan A3–165,000Topic, Morais, Chinaglia
September 17Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China A1–180,000Field
September 20Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China A1–250,000Pelé
September 25 Flag of India.svg Mohun Bagan A2–265,000Carlos Alberto, Chinaglia
October 1 Flag of Brazil.svg Santos [n 1] H2–175,646Mifflin, Pelé
October 5 Flag of Brazil.svg SantosN [n 2] 1–124,689Chinaglia
October 8Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China H1–133,712Chinaglia
October 14 Flag of Brazil.svg Flamengo A1–414,000Field
Notes
  1. ↑ Pelé's farewell game. After his #10 was retired by the franchise at halftime, Pelé played the second half for Santos. [8]
  2. ↑ Held in Detroit.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Soccer League (1968–1984)</span> Defunct major soccer league in the United States and Canada

The North American Soccer League (NASL) was the top-level major professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. It was the first soccer league to be successful on a national scale in the United States. The league final was called the Soccer Bowl from 1975 to 1983 and the Soccer Bowl Series in its final year, 1984. The league was headed by Commissioner Phil Woosnam from 1969 to 1983. The NASL laid the foundations for soccer in the United States that helped lead to the country hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the set-up of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Cosmos (1970–1985)</span> American former soccer club

The New York Cosmos were an American professional soccer club based in New York City and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York, including Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the club remained for the rest of its history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Sting</span> Former American professional soccer team based in Chicago

The Chicago Sting (1974–1988) was an American professional soccer team representing Chicago. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1982–83 season and again from 1984 to 1988. They were North American Soccer League champions in 1981 and 1984, one of only two NASL teams to win the championship twice.

The 1984 North American Soccer League season was the 72nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 17th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada. It would be the 17th and final season of the NASL.

Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1977. This was the 10th season of the NASL.

The 1978 North American Soccer League season was the 66th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 11th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada.

The 1979 North American Soccer League season was the 67th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer and the 12th with a national first-division league in the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer Bowl '78</span> North American Soccer League championship final for the 1978 season

Soccer Bowl '78 was the North American Soccer League's championship final for the 1978 season. It was the fourth NASL championship under the Soccer Bowl name.

North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. Beginning in 1975, the league final was called the Soccer Bowl.

The 1983 New York Cosmos season was the original Cosmos franchise's thirteenth season of existence, and their thirteenth in the original North American Soccer League. At the time, the NASL represented the top tier of American soccer. Finishing the season with 194 points off of 22 wins and eight losses, the Cosmos clinched their sixth-consecutive regular season championship, and their seventh overall. In the postseason, however, the Cosmos lost to Montreal Manic.

The 1973 New York Cosmos season was the third season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' third year of existence, the club finished 2nd in the Eastern Division and 3rd in the overall league table. In the playoffs, the Cosmos were defeated in their semifinal match by the Dallas Tornado.

The 1974 New York Cosmos season was the fourth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' fourth year of existence the club finished last in the four-team Northern Division and 13th out of 15 in the overall league table, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in their short history.

The 1975 New York Cosmos season was the fifth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' fifth year of existence the club finished 3rd in the five-team Northern Division and 12th out of 20 in the overall league table. Despite Pelé joining the club midseason in what English writer Gavin Newsham said was "the transfer coup of the century," bringing unprecedented attention to soccer in the United States, the Cosmos missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

The 1976 New York Cosmos season was the sixth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. In the Cosmos' sixth year of existence the club finished second only to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in both the five-team Eastern Division and the 20-team league. The Cosmos returned to the playoffs for the first time in two years, but were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the rival Rowdies. 1976 marked the first year for Giorgio Chinaglia with the club; Chinaglia would go on to become the all-time leading scorer in both Cosmos and NASL history.

The 1978 New York Cosmos season was the eighth season for the Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. It was also the second and final year in which "New York" was dropped from their name. The double-winning club set records for most wins and points in an NASL season, thanks to their 24-6 regular-season mark and 212 points, securing their second premiership on the way to their third championship. They beat the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 7–0 on opening day and never looked back, scoring 88 times while losing just three games in regulation. Giorgio Chinaglia scored 34 goals and 79 points, setting league records in the process. In Soccer Bowl '78, the Cosmos defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies in front of 74,901 fans at Giants Stadium, still to this day a record for attendance at a North American championship soccer game.

The 1979 New York Cosmos season was the ninth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. 1979 saw the club continue their premiership streak to three seasons with the league's highest point total, and match their wins record while achieving a record point total, but the Cosmos' quest for a third straight NASL championship ended with a loss in the conference finals to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The 1980 New York Cosmos season was the tenth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. The Cosmos completed their third double, finishing 1st in the overall league table and defeating the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3–0 in Soccer Bowl '80.

The 1981 New York Cosmos season was the 11th season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. Despite winning their fifth straight premiership by five points over the Chicago Sting, the Cosmos lost to the Sting in Soccer Bowl '81.

The 1982 New York Cosmos season was the 12th season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. The Cosmos completed their fourth double—a feat not matched by any NASL or, as yet, MLS club—finishing 37 points ahead of Seattle for the league premiership, and defeating the Sounders in Soccer Bowl '82 for the league championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer Bowl '77</span> Soccer match

Soccer Bowl '77 was the championship final of the 1977 NASL season. The New York Cosmos took on the Seattle Sounders. The match was played on August 28, 1977 at Civic Stadium, in Portland, Oregon. The game was also noteworthy as the final competitive match for Pelé, the Brazilian star widely acknowledged as the sport's greatest player. The Cosmos won the match, 2–1, to claim their second North American championship. The match was broadcast on TVS.

References

  1. ↑ Bell, Jack (May 2008). "Gordon Bradley, Who Nurtured U.S. Soccer, Dies at 74 (Published 2008)". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ "From Cape Town to NY, via Charlton: The footballing life of Eddie Firmani". TheGuardian.com . May 19, 2010.
  3. ↑ "North American Soccer League".
  4. ↑ "ESPN.com - E-Ticket: When Soccer Ruled The USA". www.espn.com.
  5. ↑ "NASL New York Cosmos Rosters".
  6. ↑ "All-time American soccer statistics | SoccerStats.us".
  7. ↑ "The Year in American Soccer - 1977". Archived from the original on July 13, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Heritage". New York Cosmos.