NASL Final 1971

NASL Final 1971
Event NASL Final
Best of three series
Over Time
Date September 12, 1971 (1971-09-12)
Venue Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance 3,218
Date September 15, 1971 (1971-09-15)
Venue Franklin Stadium, Dallas, Texas
Attendance 6,456
Date September 19, 1971 (1971-09-19)
Venue Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance 4,687

NASL Final 1971 was the championship series of the 1971 season. It was a best-of-three series between the Dallas Tornado and the Atlanta Chiefs. The matches were held on September 9, 15, and 19, 1971. Games one and three were played at Atlanta Stadium, in Atlanta, Georgia. Game two was played at Franklin Stadium, in Dallas, Texas. A combined 14,361 people attended the three game series.[1] The Chiefs won game one, while the Tornado won games two and three to claim their first NASL championship.[2][3]

Background

The Dallas Tornado qualified for the playoffs by virtue of having the highest non-division-winning point total in the league (119 points). They defeated the defending league champion Rochester Lancers in a marathon semifinal series, two games to one, that featured two of the longest games ever played in the history of soccer. Game 1 lasted a record 176 minutes and Game 3 lasted 148 minutes.

The Atlanta Chiefs path to the finals was a bit smoother. They qualified for the playoffs by winning the Southern Division with 120 points. The Chiefs then defeated the New York Cosmos in the semifinals, two games to none without conceding a goal.

Match summary

Championship results

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Attendance
Dallas Tornado 2–1Atlanta Chiefs 1–2 (3ot) 4–1 2–1 September 12 Atlanta Stadium-3,218
September 15 Franklin Stadium-6,456
September 19 Atlanta Stadium-4,687

Game one

September 12
Atlanta Chiefs 2–1 (a.e.t.) Dallas Tornado
Uriel De Veiga
Kaizer Motaung
Tibor Molnar[4]
Atlanta
Dallas

Game two

September 15
Dallas Tornado 4–1 Atlanta Chiefs
Luiz Juracy
Luiz Juracy
Phil Tinney
Tony McLoughlin
Henry Largie
Dallas[5]
Atlanta

Game three

Atlanta[8]
Dallas


1971 NASL Champions: Dallas Tornado

See also

References

Template:1971 in American soccer

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