The 1977 North American Soccer League playoffs began on August 10 and ended on August 28 with Soccer Bowl '77 at Civic Stadium in Portland, Oregon. 12 out of 18 teams qualified after a 26-match regular season, six from each conference.

Playoff format

The top three teams in each division would quality for the playoffs, similar to the 1976 playoffs. The first round and the Soccer Bowl were single games, but the division championships and conference championships were two-game series. If teams were tied at one win apiece at the conclusion of Game 2, there would be a 30-minute sudden death mini-game and a shootout if necessary.

1977 North American Soccer League playoffs

Playoff seeds

Atlantic Conference

Eastern Division

Fort Lauderdale Strikers – Eastern Division champions, 161 points

Cosmos – 140 points

Tampa Bay Rowdies – 131 points

Northern Division

Toronto Metros-Croatia – Northern Division champions, 111 points

St. Louis Stars – 104 points

Rochester Lancers – 99 points

Pacific Conference

Southern Division

Dallas Tornado – Southern Division champions, 161 points

Los Angeles Aztecs – 147 points

San Jose Earthquakes – 119 points

Western Division

Minnesota Kicks – Western Division champions, 137 points

Vancouver Whitecaps – 124 points

Seattle Sounders – 119 points

Bracket

First round

Atlantic Conference

(E2) Cosmos vs. (E3) Tampa Bay Rowdies

(N2) St. Louis Stars vs. (N3) Rochester Lancers

Pacific Conference

(S2) Los Angeles Aztecs vs. (S3) San Jose Earthquakes

(W2) Vancouver Whitecaps vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders

Division Finals

Atlantic Conference

(E1) Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. (E2) Cosmos

Cosmos win series 2–0

(N1) Toronto Metros-Croatia vs. (N3) Rochester Lancers

Rochester wins series 2–0

Pacific Conference

(S1) Dallas Tornado vs. (S2) Los Angeles Aztecs

Los Angeles wins series 2–0

(W1) Minnesota Kicks vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders

Seattle wins series 2–0

Conference Finals

Atlantic Conference

(E2) Cosmos vs. (N3) Rochester Lancers

Cosmos win series 2–0

Pacific Conference

(S2) Los Angeles Aztecs vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders

Seattle wins series 2–0

Soccer Bowl '77

References

External links

The Year in American Soccer – 1977

Chris Page's NASL Archive

Complete NASL Results and Standings

North American Soccer League (1968–1984) playoffs

1977 in American soccer

1977 North American Soccer League playoffs