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1979 Vancouver Whitecaps season

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Vancouver Whitecaps
1979 season
ChairmanHerb Capozzi
Head coachTony Waiters
North American
Soccer League
Division: 1st
Conference: 3rd
Overall: 4th
NASL PlayoffsChampions
Challenge TrophyIneligible[a]
Top goalscorerLeague: Kevin Hector (15)
All: Kevin Hector (17)
Highest home attendance32,875 vs NYC
NASL Playoffs (8/29)
Lowest home attendance16,965 vs SD
NASL (5/02)
Biggest win
    • VAN 4–1 NYC
      NASL (6/16)
    • VAN 3–0 TOR
      NASL (7/21)
Biggest defeatLA 2–0 VAN
NASL (8/04)
← 1978
1980 →

The 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps season was the club's sixth season in the North American Soccer League.

Roster

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The 1979 squad coached by Tony Waiters:[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK England ENG Phil Parkes
2 MF England ENG Ray Lewington
3 DF England ENG Bob McNab
4 DF England ENG John Craven
5 DF Canada CAN Robert Lenarduzzi
6 DF England ENG Roger Kenyon
7 MF Canada CAN Buzz Parsons
8 MF England ENG Jon Sammels
9 FW England ENG Trevor Whymark
10 MF Canada CAN Bob Bolitho
11 FW England ENG Kevin Hector
12 DF Canada CAN Paul Nelson
17 DF England ENG Peter Daniel
18 DF Canada CAN Dan Lenarduzzi
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 FW Scotland SCO Willie Johnston
21 FW Canada CAN Carl Valentine
22 GK Zimbabwe ZIM Bruce Grobbelaar
23 FW England ENG Alan Ball
23 MF Canada CAN Drew Ferguson
24 FW England ENG Derek Possee
25 MF Canada CAN David McCaig
26 MF Canada CAN David McGill
27 MF Scotland SCO Gerry Gray
28 FW Canada CAN Steve Nesin
29 DF Canada CAN Carl Shearer
30 DF Canada CAN Alan Soundraal
31 FW Canada CAN Ralston Dunlop
32 FW Canada CAN Brent Barling

North American Soccer League

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Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Regular season 30 March 11 August Matchday 1 1st NC West, 4th Overall 30 20 10 54 34 +20 066.67
Playoffs 15 August 8 September Conference Quarterfinals Winner 9 7 2 13 8 +5 077.78
Total 39 27 0 12 67 42 +25 069.23

Last updated: 4 August 2023
Source: Competitions

Regular season

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Standings

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 -Playoffs via division standings.  -Playoffs via wildcard.

NC West Division standings
Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD BP Pts
1 Vancouver Whitecaps 30 20 10 54 34 +20 52 172
2 Los Angeles Aztecs 30 18 12 62 47 +15 54 162
3 Seattle Sounders 30 13 17 58 52 +6 47 125
4 Portland Timbers 30 11 19 50 75 −25 56 122
Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 1979. Source: Overall standings

National Conference standings
Pos Div Team Pld W L GF GA GD BP Pts Qualification
1 E New York Cosmos 30 24 6 84 52 +32 72 216 Playoffs (division winner)
2 C Minnesota Kicks 30 21 9 67 48 +19 58 184
3 W Vancouver Whitecaps (N) 30 20 10 54 34 +20 52 172
4 E Washington Diplomats 30 19 11 68 50 +18 58 172 Playoffs (division runner-up)
5 W Los Angeles Aztecs 30 18 12 62 47 +15 54 162
Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 1979. Source: Overall standings
Rules for classification: 1) Division position; 2) Points; 3) Wins; 4) Goal differential
(N) Conference champion


Overall standings
Pos Div Team Pld W L GF GA GD BP Pts
2 AC Houston Hurricane 30 22 8 61 46 +15 55 187
3 NC Minnesota Kicks 30 21 9 67 48 +19 58 184
4 NW Vancouver Whitecaps (C) 30 20 10 54 34 +20 52 172
5 NE Washington Diplomats 30 19 11 68 50 +18 58 172
6 AE Tampa Bay Rowdies 30 19 11 67 46 +21 55 169
Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 1979. Source: soccerstats.us
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Wins; 3) Goal differential
(C) NASL Champions

Results

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Match record by division
Conference West Central East Total
National Conference 4–2 (0–0) 4–2 (0–1) 4–2 (0–0) 12–6 (0–1)
American Conference 6–2 (0–1) 1–1 (1–0) 1–1 (0–1) 8–4 (1–2)
Total 10–4 (0–1) 5–3 (1–1) 5–3 (0–1) 20–10 (1–3)

Matches

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30 March 1 Vancouver Whitecaps 1–2 (SO) Dallas Tornado Vancouver, British Columbia
Hector Report Gomez Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 24,850
6 April 2 Inter-conference Vancouver Whitecaps 2–0 Edmonton Drillers Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 18,097
14 April 3 Inter-conference Chicago Sting 2–3 (SO) Vancouver Whitecaps Chicago, Illinois
Report Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 10,130
21 April 4 Vancouver Whitecaps 2–1 Portland Timbers Vancouver, British Columbia
Whymark Report Bain Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 23,137
27 April 5 Inter-conference San Diego Sockers 1–0 Vancouver Whitecaps San Diego, California
Nover Report Stadium: Jack Murphy Stadium
Attendance: 10,514
2 May 6 Inter-conference Vancouver Whitecaps 3–1 San Diego Sockers Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 16,965
5 May 7 Inter-conference San Jose Earthquakes 1–2 Vancouver Whitecaps San Jose, California
Report Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Attendance: 14,107
11 May 8 Vancouver Whitecaps 1–0 Rochester Lancers Vancouver, British Columbia
Valentine Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 22,078
18 May 9 Inter-conference Vancouver Whitecaps 2–0 Philadelphia Fury Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 18,293
30 May 10 Inter-conference Edmonton Drillers 1–3 Vancouver Whitecaps Edmonton, Alberta
Kraay Report Hector Stadium: Commonwealth Stadium
Attendance: 10,529
2 June 11 Inter-conference Vancouver Whitecaps 0–1 Houston Hurricane Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Marasco Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 26,013
7 June 12 Tulsa Roughnecks 1–2 Vancouver Whitecaps Tulsa, Oklahoma
Report Stadium: Skelly Stadium
Attendance: 10,102
9 June 13 Minnesota Kicks 1–0 Vancouver Whitecaps Bloomington, Minnesota
Futcher Report Stadium: Metropolitan Stadium
Attendance: 24,061
13 June 14 Inter-conference California Surf 3–2 (SO) Vancouver Whitecaps Anaheim, California
Report Stadium: Anaheim Stadium
Attendance: 7,182
16 June 15 Vancouver Whitecaps 4–1 New York Cosmos Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 32,372
24 June 16 Inter-conference Vancouver Whitecaps 2–1 California Surf Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 20,814
27 June 17 Atlanta Chiefs 1–3 Vancouver Whitecaps Atlanta, Georgia
Report Stadium: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Attendance: 5,152
30 June 18 Inter-conference Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3–2 (SO) Vancouver Whitecaps Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Report Stadium: Lockhart Stadium
Attendance: 15,290
4 July 19 Toronto Blizzard 2–1 Vancouver Whitecaps Toronto, Ontario
Report Stadium: Varsity Stadium
Attendance: 13,754
7 July 20 Vancouver Whitecaps 3–1 Seattle Sounders Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 20,041
11 July 21 Vancouver Whitecaps 0–1 Los Angeles Aztecs Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Cruyff 26' Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 28,764
15 July 22 New York Cosmos 2–4 Vancouver Whitecaps East Rutherford, New Jersey
Report (Soccerstats)
[Report (Sun) [2]]
Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 48,753
18 July 23 Washington Diplomats 2–1 Vancouver Whitecaps Washington, D.C.
Report Stadium: Robert F. Kennedy Stadium
Attendance: 12,321
21 July 24 Vancouver Whitecaps 3–0 Toronto Blizzard Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 21,409
25 July 25 Vancouver Whitecaps 1–0 Tulsa Roughnecks Vancouver, British Columbia
Whymark Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 21,196
28 July 26 Portland Timbers 2–3 Vancouver Whitecaps Portland, Oregon
Dale Mitchell Report Stadium: Civic Stadium
Attendance: 12,727
1 August 27 Vancouver Whitecaps 1–0 Minnesota Kicks Vancouver, British Columbia
Lenarduzzi Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 24,656
4 August 28 Los Angeles Aztecs 2–0 Vancouver Whitecaps Los Angeles, California
Report Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 11,157
8 August 29 Inter-conference Vancouver Whitecaps 1–0 San Jose Earthquakes Vancouver, British Columbia
Whymark Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 25,731
11 August 30 Seattle Sounders 1–2 Vancouver Whitecaps Seattle, Washington
Report Stadium: Kingdome
Attendance: 24,196

Playoffs

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Conference Quarterfinals – vs Dallas (N6)

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15 August Game 1 Dallas Tornado 2–3 Vancouver Whitecaps Dallas, Texas
Report Stadium: Ownby Stadium
Attendance: 8,829
18 August Game 2 Vancouver Whitecaps 2–1 Dallas Tornado Vancouver, British Columbia
Craven Report Pecher Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 30,328

Vancouver won series 2–0.

Conference Semifinals – vs Los Angeles (N5)

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22 August Game 1 Los Angeles Aztecs 3–2 (SO) Vancouver Whitecaps Pasadena, California
Report Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 21,213
25 August Game 2 Vancouver Whitecaps 1–0 Los Angeles Aztecs Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 32,375
25 August Mini-game Vancouver Whitecaps 1–0 Los Angeles Aztecs Vancouver, British Columbia
[[3]] Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 32,375

Series tied 1–1, Vancouver won tiebreaking mini-game.

Conference Championships – vs New York (N1)

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29 August Game 1 Vancouver Whitecaps 2–0 New York Cosmos Vancouver, British Columbia
Report Stadium: Empire Stadium
Attendance: 32,875
1 September Game 2 New York Cosmos 3–2 (SO) Vancouver Whitecaps East Rutherford, New Jersey
Report
Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 44,109
Penalties
1 September Mini-game New York Cosmos 0–1 (SO) Vancouver Whitecaps East Rutherford, New Jersey
Report Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 44,109
Penalties

Series tied 1–1, Vancouver won tiebreaking mini-game.

Soccer Bowl – vs Tampa Bay (A2)

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8 September NASL Final Vancouver Whitecaps 2–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies East Rutherford, New Jersey
2:00 p.m. EDT
Stadium: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 50,699
Referee: Gino D'Ippolito (United States)

References

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  1. ^ A national championship tournament for professional clubs was not organized by Canada Soccer in 1979, or any year until 2008.
  1. ^ "Vancouver Whitecaps 1979". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "Cosmos and 'Caps stage a pitch(ed) battle". Vancouver Sun. July 16, 1979. p. C1.
  3. ^ Stinson, Dan (27 August 1979). "Whitecaps' journey finds them sitting pretty". Vancouver Sun. p. C1 (23).
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