The 1968 North American Soccer League season was the 56th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States and Canada, and the 1st with a national first-division league with the inaugural season of the NASL.
The NASL was formed this year as a merger between the former top division soccer leagues, the United Soccer Association along with the National Professional Soccer League. In the inaugural year, the Atlanta Chiefs were the champions, by winning the NASL Final 3–0, in a two-game aggregate over the San Diego Toros. While the Chiefs were the champions for the season, the premiers for this season were the Toros, who obtained the highest point total.
Overview 17 teams competed in this inaugural season, and the Atlanta Chiefs won the championship. While San Diego won the premiership, Atlanta's winning percentage was higher because a match had been canceled. This would mark the first of five times in the league's history that the best record did not equate to a premiership. The Oakland Clippers had an identical record to the Western Division Champion Toros and a higher goal-differential, but just as with Atlanta the Toros had more league points. Oakland had won every competition in the NPSL's 1967 season, but were denied a chance to defend their title in the merged league because of this unique points system.
8 came from the NPSL: Atlanta, Baltimore, Kansas City (from Chicago), New York, Oakland, St. Louis, San Diego ( from Los Angeles) and Toronto. 9 came from the USA: Boston (nickname changed), Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Vancouver (nickname shortened) and Washington. 2 teams from the NPSL folded (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). 3 teams from the USA folded (New York, San Francisco and Toronto). 2 teams, Houston (USA) and St. Louis (NPSL), had the same nickname the "Stars".
Map of clubs
Regular season W = Wins, L = Losses, T= Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts= point system, Avg Att= Average Attendance
6 points for a win, 3 points for a tie, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each goal scored up to three per game. -Premiers (most points). -Best record. -Other playoff teams.
Eastern Conference Atlantic DivisionWLTGFGAPtsAvg AttAtlanta Chiefs187650321745,794Washington Whips1510750321676,586New York Generals1281262541645,606Baltimore Bays1316342431284,628Boston Beacons917651691214,004
Lakes DivisionWLTGFGAPtsAvg AttCleveland Stokers1471162441754,305Chicago Mustangs1310968681642,463Toronto Falcons1313655691445,284Detroit Cougars62144865884,266
Western Conference Gulf DivisionWLTGFGAPtsAvg AttKansas City Spurs1611561431588,510^Houston Stars1412658411503,246St. Louis Stars1214647591305,388Dallas Tornado226428109522,929
Pacific DivisionWLTGFGAPtsAvg AttSan Diego Toros188665381864,245Oakland Clippers188671381853,700Los Angeles Wolves1113855521392,441*Vancouver Royals1215551601366,197 ^League best, *League worst
NASL All-Stars
First Team Position Second Team Mirko Stojanović, Oakland G Vic Rouse, Atlanta Mel Scott, Oakland D John Worbye, Washington Momcilio Gavric, Oakland D John Cocking, Atlanta David Davidovic, OaklandM Dennis Viollet, Baltimore Ron Crisp, San Diego M Milan Čop, Oakland Ruben Navarro, Cleveland M Tony Knapp, Los Angeles Janusz Kowalik, Chicago F Victorio Casa, Washington Pepe Fernandez, San Diego F Mario Baesso, Oakland Jorgen Kristensen, Detroit F Eric Barber, Kansas City Casey Frankiewicz, St. Louis F Vavá, San Diego Ilija Mitic, Oakland F Enrique Mateos, Cleveland
Playoffs Bracket
Conference finals Higher seedAggregateLower seedFirst legSecond legAttendanceAtlanta Chiefs 3–2 Cleveland Stokers 1–1 2–1 (OT) September 11 • Cleveland Stadium • 3,431September 14 • Atlanta Stadium • 6,645San Diego Toros 2–1 Kansas City Spurs 1–1 1–0 (2OT) September 11 • Municipal Stadium • 5,042September 16 • Balboa Stadium • 6,271
NASL Final 1968
Eastern ChampionAggregateWestern Champion First legSecond legAttendanceAtlanta Chiefs 3–0 San Diego Toros 0–0 3–0 September 21 • Balboa Stadium • 9,360September 28 • Atlanta Stadium • 14,994
First leg
Second leg
1968 NASL Champions: Atlanta Chiefs
Post season awards Most Valuable Player: Janusz Kowalik, Chicago Coach of the year: Phil Woosnam, Atlanta Rookie of the year: Kaizer Motaung, Atlanta
Average home attendance
TeamAverageKansas City Spurs 8,510Washington Whips 6,318Vancouver Royals 6,197Atlanta Chiefs 5,626New York Generals 5,606St. Louis Stars 5,388Toronto Falcons 5,284Cleveland Stokers 4,305Detroit Cougars 4,183San Diego Toros 4,137Baltimore Bays 4,112Boston Beacons 3,992Oakland Clippers 3,690Houston Stars 3,246Dallas Tornado 2,929Los Angeles Wolves 2,396Chicago Mustangs 2,379
References