Soccer Bowl 2016

Soccer Bowl 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

Background

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

Semi-final #1

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

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 11 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

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

Details

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

2016 NASL Champions: New York Cosmos

New York Cosmos:
GK1 Jimmy Maurer
DF4 Carlos Mendes (c)
DF6 Rovérsio 59'
DF2 Ryan Richter
DF17 Ayoze
MF11 Andrés Flores 103'
MF15 Ruben Bover
MF18 Juan Arango
MF16 Adam Moffat
MF19 Yohandry Orozco 77'
FW25 Jairo Arrieta 116'
Substitutes:
GK24 Brian Holt
DF3 David Ochieng 59'
DF23 Jimmy Ockford
DF28 Jimmy Mulligan
MF14 Danny Szetela 103'
MF26 Eric Calvillo
FW21 David Diosa 77'
Manager:
Giovanni Savarese
Indy Eleven:
GK18 Jon Busch
DF23 Marco Franco
DF82 Nemanja Vuković
DF12 Greg Janicki
DF32 Colin Falvey (c) 83'
MF6 Dylan Mares 45'
MF7 Don Smart 90'
MF10 Siniša Ubiparipović 101'
MF4 Brad Ring 72'
FW9 Éamon Zayed
FW20 Justin Braun
Substitutes:
GK1 Keith Cardona
DF5 Lovel Palmer
MF3 Gerardo Torrado 45'
MF8 Nicki Paterson 101'
MF15 Daniel Keller
FW14 Duke Lacroix 90'
FW99 Souleymane Youla
Manager:
Tim Hankinson

MATCH OFFICIALS

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

Statistics

Overall New York Indy
Goals scored 00
Total shots 209
Shots on target 41
Ball possession 59%41%
Corner kicks 86
Fouls committed 1618
Offsides 46
Saves 14
Yellow cards 12
Red cards 00

References

  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. 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.
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