Teams 12 Matches played 16 | Runners-up Rochester Lancers Goals scored 175 (10.94 per match) | |
Dates March 12, 1976 –March 27, 1976 Champions Tampa Bay Rowdies (1st title) | ||
Over the course of three weekends in March 1976, the North American Soccer League hosted its second league-wide indoor soccer tournament. Twelve of the twenty NASL teams participated.
Contents
Overview
In 1976, instead of playing a full indoor schedule (and despite the hopes of Tampa Bay owner George Strawbridge, Jr.), the North American Soccer League opted to stage a two-tiered indoor tournament for the second consecutive year. Moreover, this time only twelve teams participated in three regions, down from 16 in four regions the previous year. The regional winners along with the "best" second-place team would advance to the final four in St. Petersburg, Florida. While the goals remained 4 × 16, the games would be shortened to three 15-minute periods, instead of the 20-minute frames played the previous year. The tournament also saw the first-ever indoor overtime and penalty shootout, as Miami and Boston played to a 6–6 draw in the opening match. After 45 minutes of regulation time and two 5-minute golden goal extra sessions, the match was ultimately decided by spot kicks.
Playing on their home ground, the Tampa Bay Rowdies defeated the Rochester Lancers 6–4 in the Championship Final. Juli Veee of San Jose scored eight goals to lead the tournament, while Clyde Best of Tampa Bay earned the MVP honors.
Eastern Regional
played at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida
*Tampa Bay wins region, advances to semifinals
Midwest Regional
played at International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois
*Rochester wins region, advances to semifinals
West Regional
played at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California
*San Jose wins region on goal differential, while Dallas is the top second-place team in any region, so both advance to semifinals
Semi-finals
played at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida
Third-place match
played at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida
Championship Final
1975 NASL Indoor Champions: Tampa Bay Rowdies
Final Four awards
Non-tournament matches
In addition to the tournament itself, a few teams staged other indoor matches as tune-ups for both the outdoor season and the indoor tournament itself.