NASL Final 1973 was the championship match of the 1973 North American Soccer League season, between the expansion Philadelphia Atoms and the Dallas Tornado. The match was played on August 25, 1973 at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The Philadelphia Atoms won the match, 2–0, and were crowned the 1973 North American Soccer League champions.

Background

The Dallas Tornado qualified for the playoffs by virtue of winning the Southern Division with 111 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 New York Cosmos, 1–0, in the first semifinal game played on August 15, 1973 to advance to the finals.

The Philadelphia Atoms qualified for the playoffs by virtue of winning the Eastern Division with 104 points. They also had the second highest point-total in the NASL. This guaranteed them at least one home playoff game. They soundly defeated the Northern Division champion Toronto Metros, 3–0, in the second semifinal game played on August 18, 1973 to advance to the finals.

Match details

Dallas Tornado0–2Philadelphia Atoms
Best 65' (o.g.) Straub 85'
Dallas TornadoPhiladelphia Atoms
GK 1 England Ken Cooper DF 14 England Bobby Moffat DF 4 England John Best (c) DF 5 England Dick Hall MF 6 United States Roy Turner 82' MF 13 Ghana Mohammad Attaih MF 10 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ilija Mitic FW 17 England Ray Bloomfield FW 2 United States Jim Benedek 45' FW 12 United States Kyle Rote Jr. FW 11 England Mike Renshaw Substitutes: MF 7 England Bob Ridley 45' FW 9 Brazil Luiz Juracy 82' Manager: England Ron NewmanGK 1 United States Bob Rigby DF 2 United States Barry Barto DF 3 United States Bobby Smith DF 4 England Roy Evans DF 5 England Chris Dunleavy DF 17 United States Bill Straub MF 8 United States Stan Startzell MF 18 England Derek Trevis (c) MF 11 United States George O'Neill FW 15 United States Charles Duccilli 68' FW 16 United States Karl Minor Substitutes: MF 12 United States Manfred Schellscheidt 68' Manager: United States Al Miller
GK1England Ken Cooper
DF14England Bobby Moffat
DF4England John Best (c)
DF5England Dick Hall
MF6United States Roy Turner82'
MF13Ghana Mohammad Attaih
MF10Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ilija Mitic
FW17England Ray Bloomfield
FW2United States Jim Benedek45'
FW12United States Kyle Rote Jr.
FW11England Mike Renshaw
Substitutes:
MF7England Bob Ridley45'
FW9Brazil Luiz Juracy82'
Manager:
England Ron Newman
GK1United States Bob Rigby
DF2United States Barry Barto
DF3United States Bobby Smith
DF4England Roy Evans
DF5England Chris Dunleavy
DF17United States Bill Straub
MF8United States Stan Startzell
MF18England Derek Trevis (c)
MF11United States George O'Neill
FW15United States Charles Duccilli68'
FW16United States Karl Minor
Substitutes:
MF12United States Manfred Schellscheidt68'
Manager:
United States Al Miller

1973 NASL Champions: Philadelphia Atoms

Assistant referees: Howard Neil (United States) Bill Wuertz (United States)

See also

External links