NASL Final 1971
EventNASL Final
Atlanta Chiefs Dallas Tornado
1 2
(Best-of-three series)
Game 1
Atlanta Chiefs Dallas Tornado
2 1
after extra time
DateSeptember 12, 1971 (1971-09-12)
VenueAtlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance3,218
Game 2
Dallas Tornado Atlanta Chiefs
4 1
DateSeptember 15, 1971 (1971-09-15)
VenueFranklin Stadium, Dallas
Attendance6,456
Game 3
Atlanta Chiefs Dallas Tornado
0 2
DateSeptember 19, 1971 (1971-09-19)
VenueAtlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance4,687
← 1970
1972 →

NASL Final 1971 was the championship series of the 1971 season. It was contested as 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 of Hillcrest High School in Dallas. 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 2–1 in a marathon best-of-three semifinal series. The series featured two of the longest matches in the sport's history due to the NASL's adoption of a sudden death rule to replace the penalty shootout. The first leg ended shortly before midnight on September 1 with a victory for Rochester after 176 minutes and required six overtime periods; the third leg lasted 148 minutes with four overtime periods and sent the Tornado to the final with a 2–1 win.[4][5]

The Atlanta Chiefs qualified for the playoffs by winning the Southern Division with 120 points. The Chiefs then defeated the New York Cosmos in the semifinals with two wins and no goals conceded.

Series summary

Champion Runner-up Game 1 Venue 1 Game 2 Venue 2 Game 3 Venue 3 Result
Dallas Tornado Atlanta Chiefs
1–2
 Atlanta Stadium
4–1
 Franklin Stadium
2–0
 Atlanta Stadium
2–1 [note 1]
Notes
  1. ^ Result on games won, as a best-of-three series.

Match details

First leg

Atlanta Chiefs2–1 (a.e.t.)Dallas Tornado
da Veiga 72'
Motaung gold-colored soccer ball 124' 		Report Molnár 41'
Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
Attendance: 3,218
Atlanta Chiefs
Dallas Tornado

Second leg

Dallas Tornado4–1Atlanta Chiefs
Tinney 45'
Juracy 54', 76'
Tony McLoughlin 		Report 1
Report 2		 Largie 44'
Franklin Stadium, Dallas
Attendance: 6,456
Dallas Tornado [6]
Atlanta Chiefs

Playoff

Atlanta Chiefs0–2Dallas Tornado[7]
Report 1
Report 2		 Renshaw 3'
Moffat 45'
Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
Attendance: 4,687
Atlanta Chiefs [8]
Dallas Tornado

1971 NASL Champions: Dallas Tornado

See also

References

  1. ^ "Previo Campeones: Dallas Tornado Ganan Titulo en 1971". September 22, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  2. ^ NASL. "NASLSoccerBowl - History - Past Winner". North American Soccer League.
  3. ^ NASL. "NASL 1968-1984 - Yearly Result". North American Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013.
  4. ^ Lewis, Michael (September 1, 2015). "Exhaustion and a 176th minute winner: The NASL game that lasted nearly three hours". The Guardian. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  5. ^ Arnold, Jong (October 8, 2021). "Fifty years later, Dallas Tornado's NASL title still resonates in soccer community". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  6. ^ http://www.nasljerseys.com/images/Tornado/Tornado%2071%20Road%20Tony%20McLauglin,%20Chiefs.jpg[bare URL image file]
  7. ^ "Previo Campeones: Dallas Tornado Ganan Titulo en 1971". September 22, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  8. ^ "1971 NASL Finals Highlights - YouTube". YouTube.

External links

North American Soccer League (1968–1984)
Dallas Tornado
Atlanta Chiefs
1971 in American soccer
Categories