1979 NASL Playoffs (Whitecaps at Cosmos) - First Half

In what many consider to be the greatest match in the history of the original North American Soccer League, this is ABC's broadcast of the second leg of the 1979 National Soccer Conference final between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the defending NASL champion New York Cosmos.

This match was held at the now-demolished Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Vancouver had taken the first leg of the NSC final in Vancouver by a score of 2-0. For the Cosmos to advance to the Soccer Bowl, they would have to win this leg, then win a 30-minute 'mini-game' after that.

This video shows the first half of the match.

The announcers calling the match are Jim McKay and Paul Gardner, with Verne Lundquist on the sideline.

This video is intended for entertainment purposes only and no infringement of any kind is intended.

• Category

  Sports

[jgramuk]

this is SO cool!!!!! thanks so much for uploading it

[LilRedRasta]

wow man the quality of play is fantastic. i'm an mls fan and this game shits on anything the mls has ever done. I'm actually hoping the new nasl grows back to this level. I mean the cosmos are back. Te mls needs someone to push them into getting rid of single entity and raising the salary cap much much higher. Ten once both leagues are strong we can talk about relegation

[riotusa1]

Bobby Smith was long gone by the time Weisweiler came to the Cosmos. Smith thrived under Firmani after clashing with Gordon Bradley and was traded in 1979 to San Diego after Firmani was replaced by Julio Mazzei who never mutch cared for Smith. He returned to Philadelphia in 1980 and ended his career with Montreal in 1981

[Jimmy Hollywood]

Canada's proudest soccer moment until the Caps win the MSL Cup!

[Jimmy Hollywood]

If I'm not mistaken Bobby Smith also thrived under Weisweiler as well. (He was huge on US born talent oddly enough.)

Ultimately I think attendance was eroded by how many times the NASL made the papers for gross incompetence and the fly by night franchises that were such a mess. It ceased to feel "major league" and with the only exception of the Brooklyn Cyclones, the minors just don't fly in NYC.

[riotusa1]

What was the historical significance of this game? On one hand it gave hope to all other teams that the Cosmos & their all star roster could be beaten if you played as a team. On the other hand, it changed the direction of the Cosmos brass. They would jettison some big name players (Teuart, Marino, Roth) & hire coach Weisweiler who decided to sign young lesser known stars (Romero, Cabanas, Durgan) & often bench veterans (Alberto, Liveric,Neeskins) causing a decline in attendance at Cosmos games

[michael bagley]

commissioner woosnam gave the cosmos the benefit of the doubt by waiting until sometime before kickoff to make his decision regarding carlos alberto. off course the cosmos cried as usual (what else was new) and when all was said and done, the whitecaps showed them who was the greater side....

[sosdkny]

Let's not forget the Cosmos were without Eskandarian (red card in the first leg), Alberto (suspended by the league after spitting on the ref after the first leg). Tueart, Neeskens and Marinho were all injured and played.. PLEASE KEEP POSTING THESE GAMES!!!

RIP Chinaglia

[sosdkny]

As a huge Cosmos fan I cant believe someone actually posted this game. My parents and I had season tix from 77-82. This game was so gutwrenching. Agreed, it is one of the craziest games in the history of the league and maybe of all time.

[clubhouseme]

The "village" beat the Cosmos, as good as the Cosmos were, the Caps were better, man I can't believe this has been posted, thanks.