WSA 1987 Season (original) (raw)

F.C. Portland 10 5 5 2-0 0-0 9 16 24

Overview of the 1987 WSA Season - From the American Soccer History Archives

The WSA fielded six teams for the 1987 season, losing Edmonton to the new Canadian league. The league made steady progress off the field, signing more prominent players, including several National Team members. These included David Vanole from the LA Heat, Marcelo Balboa, with San Diego, and Brian Doyle of the San Jose Earthquakes.

The season was cut back somewhat, to ten games, but this did not cool off the pennant race as three teams, San Diego, Seattle and San Jose finished tied for first, with San Diego winning based on total wins. This improbable result was due to the new scoring system. The league had eliminated ties and instituted overtime followed by penalty kicks for all regular season games. Teams received three points for every win plus one point for each goal scored up to a maximum of three per game. This made no distinction between true wins, and draws which went to penalty kicks. One result was that two teams tied San Diego for top spot on the basis of goals scored rather than number of wins. This may have been part of the strategy, to score more goals, but in later season, these complex bonus point system would have unforeseen and embarrassing consequences for the league.

One of the most positive developments was the increasingly high quality of players attracted to the WSA. Many top players with their eyes on the national team preferred the outdoor game, in order to be properly trained for upcoming World Cup and Olympic qualifiers, and for this season at least, the WSA was the best opportunity they had. The league instituted playoffs this year, with San Diego taking the championship by defeating San Jose 3-1 after the Earthquakes had defeated Seattle Storm in the wild card match.

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