1980 Washington Diplomats season

Washington Diplomats 1980 soccer season

Washington Diplomats1980 season

General manager| Steve Danzansky
Head coach| Gordon Bradley
Stadium| RFK Stadium
NASL| Overall: 8th
Division: 4th
Conference: 2nd
NASL Playoffs| First round
National Challenge Cup| Did not enter
Top goalscorer| League: Green (25)
All: Green (25)

Home colors

Away colors

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<- 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

Squad No.  | Name  | Nationality  | Position(s)  | Previous Club

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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

[edit]

### NASL

[edit]

Further information: 1980 North American Soccer League season

Washington Diplomats v Los Angeles Aztecs August 27 Game 1|  Washington Diplomats | 1–0|  Los Angeles Aztecs | Washington, D.C.

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8:00 pm EDT[6] | Stokes 23' (Cruyff) |  |  | Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 20,231
Referee: Gino D'Ippolito (USA)[7]

Los Angeles Aztecs v Washington Diplomats August 30 Game 2|  Los Angeles Aztecs | 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)|  Washington Diplomats | Los Angeles

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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

Los Angeles Aztecs v Washington Diplomats August 30 Mini-Game|  Los Angeles Aztecs | 2–0|  Washington Diplomats | Los Angeles

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| Simic 10' (McGrane)
Simic 26' |  |  | Stadium: Rose Bowl
Attendance: 14,163

## References

[edit]

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.

* v
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1980 in American soccer

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| Leagues|

| Men|

* North American Soccer League
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Team seasons

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* Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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ASL|

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NASL Indoor|

1979–80
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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1980–81
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Tampa Bay Rowdies
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