Soccer Bowl (2011–2017)

The NASL Championship was the annual championship competition of the North American Soccer League (NASL), which formed the second division of American soccer from 2011 to 2017. The competition was held at the end of the regular season and was contested by the two finalists of the playoffs to determine the winner of the NASL Trophy, known as the Soccer Bowl Trophy.[1] The tournament is named for the Soccer Bowl from the original incarnation of the NASL, which ran from 1967 to 1984.

This article is about the 2010s playoffs tournament. For 1967–1984 playoffs tournament, see Soccer Bowl.
NASL Championship
NASL Soccer Bowl Trophy
Organising bodyNorth American Soccer League
Founded2011
Abolished2017
RegionCONCACAF
Last championsSan Francisco Deltas (1st title)
Most successful club(s)New York Cosmos (3 titles)
NASL Championship 2017

The 2011 and 2012 titles were decided in a two-game aggregate finish. Since 2013 the championship has been a single-game final. For the 2014 season, a new format was introduced, called the NASL Championship, with the final game being called the NASL Championship Final and the trophy the Soccer Bowl trophy.[1] The league suspended operations in 2018.

Format

In the league's first two seasons, the championship was played as a classic two-legged series. The league announced a switch for the 2013 season to a one-game championship final, also known as the Soccer Bowl.[2][3] In 2014 the format was tweaked again, and the game was renamed the NASL Championship Final, with the trophy being referred to as the Soccer Bowl Trophy.[1]

Trophy

On October 22, 2011, the day their inaugural championship series got underway in Minnesota, the new NASL unveiled its championship trophy. The silver trophy has a large bowl etched with the NASL logo resting atop three long prongs, and the words "North American Soccer League Soccer Bowl" inscribed prominently across the base.[4][5]

Results
NASL Championship (2011–2017)
Event Game Venue Location Champions Score Runners-up Attendance Television MVP Notes
NASL Championship[6] 2011
(NASL Championship Series 2011)

October 22, 29

 National Sports Center

Lockhart Stadium

 Blaine, Minnesota

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

 NSC Minnesota Stars 3–1

0–0

Aggregate
3–1

 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 4,511

6,849

 GOL TV Luke Mulholland
(NSC Minnesota Stars)		 Luke Mulholland scored game one winning goal in 53rd min.[7]
NASL Championship Series[8] 2012
(NASL Championship Series 2012)

October 20, 27

 National Sports Center

Al Lang Stadium[9]

 Blaine, Minnesota

St. Petersburg, Florida

 Tampa Bay Rowdies[10] 0–2

3–1

Aggregate
3–3
(a.e.t.)
PSO
3–2

 Minnesota Stars 4,642

6,208

 Ustream Jeff Attinella
(Tampa Bay Rowdies)		 Jeff Attinella saved 3 penalty kicks in shoot-out. Fafà Picault scored winning penalty kick.[11]
Soccer Bowl 2013
(Soccer Bowl 2013)

November 9

 Atlanta Silverbacks Park Atlanta, Georgia New York Cosmos 1–0 Atlanta Silverbacks 7,211 ESPN3
ESPN Deportes[12]		 Marcos Senna
(New York Cosmos)		 Marcos Senna scored championship winning goal in the 50th min.[13]
NASL Championship Final 2014
(NASL Championship Final 2014)

November 15

 Toyota Field San Antonio, Texas San Antonio Scorpions 2–1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 7,847 ESPN3
ONE World Sports
NASLLive.com
KSAT12
Sofloradio.com		 Rafael Castillo
(San Antonio Scorpions)		 Rafael Castillo scored on a bicycle kick in the 69th min. and assisted on Billy Forbes game winner in 74th min.[14]
NASL Championship Final 2015
(NASL Championship Final 2015)

November 15

 James M. Shuart Stadium Hempstead, New York New York Cosmos 3–2 Ottawa Fury 10,166 ESPN3
ONE World Sports
NASLLive.com
 Gastón Cellerino (New York Cosmos) Gastón Cellerino scored a hat trick before a modern NASL-record playoff crowd.[15]
NASL Championship Final 2016
(NASL Championship Final 2016)

November 15

 Belson Stadium Queens, New York New York Cosmos 0–0
PSO
4–2		 Indy Eleven 2,150 CBS Sports Network None
NASL Championship Final 2017
(NASL Championship Final 2017)

November 12

 Kezar Stadium San Francisco San Francisco Deltas 2–0 New York Cosmos 9,691 beIN SPORTS
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References
  1. "NASL CLUBS TO COMPETE FOR 'THE CHAMPIONSHIP'". NASL.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  2. North American Soccer League (September 5, 2012). "NASL Announces Split-Season Format for 2013". nasl.com. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  3. "- NASL".
  4. "NASL Soccer Bowl Championship Trophy Unveiled".
  5. "- NASL".
  6. "NSC Minnesota Capture first NASL Championship". NASL.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  7. Cesar. "NASL Championship Series First Leg: Minnesota Stars Win 3-1 over the Strikers". Bleacher Report.
  8. "Tampa Bay Wins NASL Championship Series After Penalty Shootout". NASL.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  9. Tampa Bay Rowdies. "Al Lang Stadium". Tampa Bay Rowdies.
  10. "The Rowdies win the 2012 NASL Super Bowl: Tampa Bay Rowdies beat the Minnesota Stars on Penalties". Vermont Premier Soccer.
  11. "NASL: Rowdies rally to give the Soccer Bowl a new home". MLSsoccer.com.
  12. NASL. "NASL Soccer Bowl 2013 To Air Live On ESPN3 And ESPN Deportes". North American Soccer League.
  13. NASL. "New York Cosmos Win NASL Soccer Bowl 2013 1-0 victory edged Atlanta Silverbacks in NASL finale". North American Soccer League.
  14. Wagner, Joe (November 16, 2014). "Scorpions Raise Soccer Bowl Trophy With 2-1 Win Over Strikers". nasl.com/.
  15. "Gastón Cellerino Hat Trick Powers Cosmos to NASL Title". North American Soccer League. November 15, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
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