1980 Washington Diplomats season

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.

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 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

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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

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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   GK   St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers
31 Bill Irwin   GK   Cardiff City
Defenders
2 Robert Iarusci   DF   New York Cosmos
3 Tommy O'Hara   DF   Queen of the South
8 Jim Steele   DF   Southampton
11 Nick Mijatović   DF   Rochester Lancers
16 Barney Boyce   DF
18 Kip Germain   DF   William & Mary Tribe[2]
19 Don Droege   DF   Rochester Lancers
20 Mike Dillon   DF   Cheshunt
21 Carmine Posillico   DF   Mercer Vikings[3]
26 Ane Mihailovich   DF   Los Angeles Aztecs
Midfielders
4 Juan Lozano   MF   Beerschot
5 Carmine Marcantonio   MF   Toronto Metros-Croatia
6 Sakib Viteškić   MF   Maastricht
7 Thomas Rongen   MF   Los Angeles Aztecs
9 József Horváth   MF   Rochester Lancers
10 Gary Darrell   MF   Montreal Olympique
12 Wim Jansen   MF   Feyenoord
14 Johan Cruyff   MF   Los Angeles Aztecs
29 Danny Molendyk   MF   Washington Huskies
Forwards
7 Art Welch   FW   Wichita Wings
13 Tony Crescitelli   FW   North Adams State Trailblazers
15 Ken Mokgojoa   FW   Benoni United[4][5]
17 Sonny Askew   FW   Essex Knights
22 Steve Byrd   FW
23 Mario Benito Luna   FW
25 Bobby Stokes   FW   Portsmouth
28 Alan Green   FW   Coventry City

Competitions

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NASL

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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
  Fernando
  Van Veen
  Keri
  Sibbald
  Etherington
  Aguirre
  O'Hara
  Iarusci
  Cruyff
  Droege
  Rongen
  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

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  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.