1981 North American Soccer League season
| Season | 1981 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Chicago Sting |
| Premiers |
New York Cosmos (5th title) |
| Matches played | 336 |
| Goals scored | 1,234 (3.67 per match) |
| Top goalscorer |
Giorgio Chinaglia (29 goals) |
| Highest attendance | 50,755 Washington at Montreal (August 18) |
| Lowest attendance | 1,861 Dallas at Chicago (May 10) |
| Average attendance | 14,084 |
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← 1980
1982 →
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Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1981. This was the 14th season of the NASL.
There were a total of 21 teams participating. The Chicago Sting defeated the New York Cosmos in Soccer Bowl '81 on September 26 to win the championship.
W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PT= point system
6 points for a win in regulation and overtime, 4 point for a shootout win, 0 points for a loss, 1 bonus point for each regulation goal scored, up to three per game.
#Due to a scheduling conflict between the Calgary Boomers and the Billy Graham Crusade, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers hosted both Games 1 and 2 (instead of Game 1 only), there-by gaining home field advantage even though they were the lower seed.
*Seattle Sounders hosted Game 2 (instead of Game 1) due to a scheduling conflict with the Mariners baseball club.
1981 NASL Champions: Chicago Sting
*From 1977 through 1984 the NASL had a variation of the penalty shoot-out procedure for tied matches. The shoot-out started 35 yards from the goal and allowed the player 5 seconds to attempt a shot. The player could make as many moves as he wanted in a breakaway situation within the time frame. Even though this particular match was a scoreless tie after overtime, NASL procedure also called for the box score to show an additional "goal" given to the winning team.
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