North American Soccer League Playoffs Aztecs vs Cosmos 1980

[goTbigGorOgoDhome10]

0:30



[FRSFreeState]

Battle of the American Coasts

[FrsBigeasy]

The Cosmos were probably the Premier Franchise of the NASL

[soccermania1000]

@FrsBigeasy I agree, they had a lot of money to spend and brought in great players. I will say if you saw this whole game I think we outplayed the Cosmos but couldn't beat Berkenmeir (spelling?) After this game we played them in NY and they beat us 3-0 and we were no contest. Canaglia scored 3 goals. When he was on he was unstoppable.

[FrsBigeasy]

@soccermania1000

The NASL had a couple of problems, too many Small Market Clubs ( Tulsa Ft. Lauerdale) & too many aging veteran talent. If they had the USL back then like they do with MLS today I think the NSAl might still be around.

[soccermania1000]

@FrsBigeasy You seem to know a lot about US soccer, are you from the US? I agree with your opinion. It was a great time but didn't last.

[FrsBigeasy]

@soccermania1000

Actually I'm a mild american soccer fan who's trying to learn about Pro Soccer in America & its history as I go along. I've seen a couple documentary's about the NASL & it seemed like a very entertaining league.

[soccermania1000]

@FrsBigeasy I played 4 years in the NASL when the Aztecs failed I got out. It was a great experience playing with Johan Cryuff and against some of the greatest players in the world. I didn't deserve to be on the field withe them.  I also played for Rinus Michels who changed the game. He and Cryuff were mentioned a couple of times during the World Cup having introduced the system that Spain used.

[FrsBigeasy]

@soccermania1000

I'm sure thats an experience you'll always cherish & never forget

[soccermania1000]

@FrsBigeasy I have great memories and just wish I could have watched Premiership when I played so I could have learned more. I had to learn from playing which is harder. Regardless, I was very lucky.

[Airman241]

@FrsBigeasy Ft Lauderdale was not small market having grownup more or less with the Strikers the move to Minnesota was a failure Lockhart Stadium was filled every game Tulsa survived to the end so that has to say something and won the championship in 1983

[FrsBigeasy]

@Airman241

Only if you consider Ft Lauderdale part of the Miami Area but their about 1/2 to an hour a part

[Airman241]

@FrsBigeasy from Lochart to Miami at that time probably about 20 min lived in Ft Lauderdale remember the NASL had to go where the market for the sport was so they had teams in different markets what killed the league was high salaries and not a fair playing field they wanted the Cosmos to win the title every year

[FrsBigeasy]

@Airman241

If they just concentrated on big Markets like Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and started there like the MLS 20 years later. They could've build on that by starting off with 10 teams. MLS which started in 96 will be over 20 teams in a few years.

Instead the NASL brought in aging veterans and paid them too much plus they didn't have an adequate Farm System like the MLS today with USL.

[Airman241]

@FrsBigeasy they tried in bigger markets most the teams did not have the fan support and folded or moved elsewhere they have to go where the fans are even if it is a smaller to medium size city-The USL I agree should be used as a farm system like baseball's minor league system to filter players to the MLS take a good look at the MLS some of those teams are in smaller to medium size cities-as far as aging vets I agree it is better to bring players in their prime

[FrsBigeasy]

@Airman241

To be a Major Sports League which is what MLS has become with it TV Contracts and Attendance Figures and Fan Support you have to be in Major Markets where the people are. Something the MISL hasn't figured out yet even though its a very entertaining league with an excellent product.

That was one of the problems with NASL. What Small Market teams are you mentioning in the MLS? If your talking about Columbus, thats the biggest City in Ohio right between Cincinatti and Cleveland.

[Airman241]

@FrsBigeasy true they had the money to spend but the Chicago Sting where also pretty solid as well and won the last league title

[ShinobuReviews]

Look at all the people who decided to dress up as chairs.

[soccermania1000]

I don't know but I know where I can find out. I will get back to you shortly.

[MilwaukeeWaveFan]

What is the name of that song in the beginning, I have been trying to find that song for a long time.