1980 Washington Diplomats season

Washington Diplomats
1980 season
General managerSteve Danzansky
Head coachGordon Bradley
StadiumRFK Stadium
NASLOverall: 8th
Division: 4th
Conference: 2nd
NASL PlayoffsFirst round
National Challenge CupDid not enter
Top goalscorerLeague: Green (25)
All: Green (25)
← 1979
1981 →

The 1980 Washington Diplomats season was the club's ninth season of existence, their ninth season in the North American Soccer League and their ninth season in the then-top tier of American soccer. The Dips played in the NASL's Eastern Division of the National Conference, and finished the season placed second in the division, behind the New York Cosmos.

The Dips qualified for the 1980 NASL Playoffs, but lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Aztecs in extra time of the second leg.

Background

During the 1979 season, the Dips finished second the Eastern Conference of the National Division. They compiled a record of 19 wins and 11 defeats with 68 goals for and 50 scored against. Their record earned the Dips a berth into the 1979 NASL Playoffs, where they lost 2–0 in games to the Los Angeles Aztecs.

Squad

The following players were contracted by the Washington Diplomats for part of the 1980 season.[1]

Squad No. Name Nationality Position(s) Previous Club
Goalkeepers
0 Dragan Radovich Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia GK United States St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers
31 Bill Irwin Northern Ireland GK Wales Cardiff City
Defenders
2 Robert Iarusci Canada DF United States New York Cosmos
3 Tommy O'Hara Scotland DF Scotland Queen of the South
8 Jim Steele Scotland DF England Southampton
11 Nick Mijatović Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia DF United States Rochester Lancers
16 Barney Boyce United States DF
18 Kip Germain United States DF United States William & Mary Tribe[2]
19 Don Droege United States DF United States Rochester Lancers
20 Mike Dillon England DF England Cheshunt
21 Carmine Posillico United States DF United States Mercer Vikings[3]
26 Ane Mihailovich Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia DF United States Los Angeles Aztecs
Midfielders
4 Juan Lozano Spain MF Belgium Beerschot
5 Carmine Marcantonio Italy MF Canada Toronto Metros-Croatia
6 Sakib Viteškić Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia MF Netherlands Maastricht
7 Thomas Rongen Netherlands MF United States Los Angeles Aztecs
9 József Horváth Hungary MF United States Rochester Lancers
10 Gary Darrell Bermuda MF Canada Montreal Olympique
12 Wim Jansen Netherlands MF Netherlands Feyenoord
14 Johan Cruyff Netherlands MF United States Los Angeles Aztecs
29 Danny Molendyk Netherlands MF United States Washington Huskies
Forwards
7 Art Welch Jamaica FW United States Wichita Wings
13 Tony Crescitelli Italy FW United States North Adams State Trailblazers
15 Ken Mokgojoa South Africa FW South Africa Benoni United[4][5]
17 Sonny Askew United States FW United States Essex Knights
22 Steve Byrd United States FW
23 Mario Benito Luna Argentina FW
25 Bobby Stokes England FW England Portsmouth
28 Alan Green England FW England Coventry City

Competitions

NASL

Further information: 1980 North American Soccer League season
August 27 Game 1 Washington Diplomats 1–0 Los Angeles Aztecs Washington, D.C.
8:00 pm EDT[6] Stokes 23' (Cruyff) Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 20,231
Referee: Gino D'Ippolito (USA)[7]
August 30 Game 2 Los Angeles Aztecs 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)		 Washington Diplomats Los Angeles
7:30 pm PDT[8] Fernando 61' (Merrick) Report Rongen 84' (Droege) Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 14,163
Referee: Warner Winsemann (Canada)
Penalties
soccer ball with red X Fernando
soccer ball with check mark Van Veen
soccer ball with check mark Keri
soccer ball with check mark Sibbald
soccer ball with check mark Etherington
soccer ball with check mark Aguirre		 soccer ball with check mark O'Hara
soccer ball with red X Iarusci
soccer ball with check mark Cruyff
soccer ball with check mark Droege
soccer ball with check mark Rongen
soccer ball with red X Mokgojoa
August 30 Mini-Game Los Angeles Aztecs 2–0 Washington Diplomats Los Angeles
Simic 10' (McGrane)
Simic 26'		 Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 14,163

References

  1. ^ "Washington Diplomats 1980 Roster". NASLJerseys.com. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  2. ^ "Men's Soccer Team Awards: Most Valuable Player" (Web). William & Mary Tribe. TribeAthletics.com. August 24, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2017. 1976 - Kip Germain
  3. ^ "MCCC Men's Soccer NJCAA All-Americans". Mercer County Community College. MCCC.edu. May 6, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2017. Carmine Posillico, 1979
  4. ^ "Kenneth "Unbelieveable" Mokgojoa" (Blog). Washington Diplomats NASL. July 9, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  5. ^ Feinstein, John. "Mokgojoa Poses Dip Dilemma". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  6. ^ "NASL Playoffs". Chicago Tribune. August 26, 1980. p. 26. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  7. ^ Feinstein, John (August 28, 1980). "Diplomats Nip Aztecs, 1-0, on Goal By Stokes". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  8. ^ "NASL Playoffs". Chicago Tribune. August 26, 1980. p. 26. Retrieved November 3, 2018.