NASL Championship Final 2016 is the North American Soccer League's postseason championship match of the 2016 season which determined the NASL Champion.

Soccer Bowl 2016
EventSoccer Bowl
After extra time
New York Cosmos won 4–2 on penalties
DateNovember 13, 2016 (2016-11-13)
VenueBelson Stadium, Queens, New York
RefereeAllen Chapman
Attendance2,150
2015
2017

Background

edit

The Indy Eleven were the first team to earn a spot in "The Championship", when they won the Spring Championship back in June. They edged out the New York Cosmos in the Spring season on the third tiebreaker (head-head). The New York Cosmos responded by winning the Fall Championship. They qualified with two games to spare and setting the home unbeaten record in modern NASL history. The league saw six teams fighting for the last playoff spot with four games left to play. Going into the final matchday, only two teams were left. Before their final regular season match, Rayo OKC qualified for "The Championship" in their first season.

Path to the final

edit

Semi-final #1

edit

Indy Eleven and FC Edmonton met three times in the regular season. They split the first game in the Spring season, and they each won their home match-ups in the Fall season.

Indy Eleven1 – 0FC Edmonton
Ubiparipović   63' Report
Report
Diakité   83'
Eckersley   90+2'
Attendance: 9,702
Referee: Sorin Stoica

Semi-final #2

edit

The New York Cosmos come into the Semi-final match as the home team, having secured their spot by winning, both the Fall season and North American Supporters' Trophy on the same night, with two matches left to play. The Cosmos meet Rayo OKC in the 2nd Semi-Final. The two teams meet three times during the regular season. The third match was a 1—1 draw at the Cosmos' Shuart Stadium.

New York Cosmos2 – 1Rayo OKC
Arango   73'   77'
Orozco   90'
Duk   90+2'
Report
Report
Danso   37'
Velásquez   42'
Kimura   64'
Attendance: 5,023
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero

Stadium Controversy

edit

Before the 2016 season began, Hofstra University told the Cosmos that there would be a scheduling conflict with the date of the 2016 Championship Final, and if the team were to host the championship game they would be forced to rent another venue.[2] The club considered sites around the area including MCU Park in Brooklyn, which was rejected because it would have cost thousands of dollars to bring in turf to cover the baseball lines.[3] The team also considered recommending a neutral site, or even selling the hosting rights to whatever club they would be facing in the Final, but those plans were never pursued.[3] The Cosmos tried to work out a deal with Hofstra, including moving the date of the Championship Final to a weekday, but those proposals were "shot down" by the university.[4]

The Cosmos eventually settled on Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John's University.[5] The announcement that the league's championship game would be played in a 2200-seat venue prompted derision from fans of the club and league, who took to social media with the hashtag #BiggerThanBelson.[6] The Final was played at Belson but failed to sell out, with only 2,150 tickets sold.[7]

Match

edit

Summary

edit

Details

edit
New York Cosmos0 – 0 (a.e.t.)Indy Eleven
Report
Report
Penalties
Arrieta  
Moffat  
Ayoze  
Richter  
4–2   Paterson
  Zayed
  Busch
  Vuković
Attendance: 2,150
Referee: Allen Chapman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New York Cosmos
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indy Eleven

2016 NASL Champions: New York Cosmos

New York Cosmos:
GK 1   Jimmy Maurer
DF 4   Carlos Mendes (c)
DF 6   Rovérsio   59'
DF 2   Ryan Richter
DF 17   Ayoze
MF 11   Andrés Flores   103'
MF 15   Ruben Bover
MF 18   Juan Arango
MF 16   Adam Moffat
MF 19   Yohandry Orozco   77'
FW 25   Jairo Arrieta   116'
Substitutes:
GK 24   Brian Holt
DF 3   David Ochieng   59'
DF 23   Jimmy Ockford
DF 28   Jimmy Mulligan
MF 14   Danny Szetela   103'
MF 26   Eric Calvillo
FW 21   David Diosa   77'
Manager:
  Giovanni Savarese
Indy Eleven:
GK 18   Jon Busch
DF 23   Marco Franco
DF 82   Nemanja Vuković
DF 12   Greg Janicki
DF 32   Colin Falvey (c)   83'
MF 6   Dylan Mares   45'
MF 7   Don Smart   90'
MF 10   Siniša Ubiparipović   101'
MF 4   Brad Ring   72'
FW 9   Éamon Zayed
FW 20   Justin Braun
Substitutes:
GK 1   Keith Cardona
DF 5   Lovel Palmer
MF 3   Gerardo Torrado   45'
MF 8   Nicki Paterson   101'
MF 15   Daniel Keller
FW 14   Duke Lacroix   90'
FW 99   Souleymane Youla
Manager:
  Tim Hankinson

MATCH OFFICIALS

  • Assistant referees:
    • Kyle Atkins
    • Cameron Blanchard
  • Fourth official: Robert Sibiga
  • Reserve official: Eric Weisbrod

Statistics

edit
Overall New York Indy
Goals scored 0 0
Total shots 20 9
Shots on target 4 1
Ball possession 59% 41%
Corner kicks 8 6
Fouls committed 16 18
Offsides 4 6
Saves 1 4
Yellow cards 1 2
Red cards 0 0

References

edit
  1. ^ "NASL ANNOUNCES SCHEDULING DETAILS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS". NASL.com. October 12, 2016.
  2. ^ Burdine, Wes. "Hofstra Ruled Out, NASL Exploring Options for Final Site". FiftyFive.One.
  3. ^ a b Martinez, Dave. "How The Cosmos Came To Choose Belson For The NASL Final". Empire of Soccer. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  4. ^ Martinez, Dave. "Cosmos COO Stover shoots down reported "sale" of NASL Final hosting rights". Empire of Soccer. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  5. ^ Nutting, Jake. "Cosmos Confirm Belson Stadium as Potential Championship Final Venue". Empire of Soccer. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  6. ^ Martinez, Dave. "Fans poke fun at the Cosmos' NASL Final plans with #BiggerThanBelson". Empire of Soccer. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  7. ^ Lewis, Michael. "Cosmos beat Indy Eleven in penalty kicks to win NASL title". Newsday. Retrieved 12 December 2016.