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)

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
0Dragan RadovichGK St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers
31Bill IrwinGK Cardiff City
Defenders
2Robert IarusciDF New York Cosmos
3Tommy O'HaraDF Queen of the South
8Jim SteeleDF Southampton
11Nick MijatovićDF Rochester Lancers
16Barney BoyceDF
18Kip GermainDF William & Mary Tribe[2]
19Don DroegeDF Rochester Lancers
20Mike DillonDF Cheshunt
21Carmine PosillicoDF Mercer Vikings[3]
26Ane MihailovichDF Los Angeles Aztecs
Midfielders
4Juan LozanoMF Beerschot
5Carmine MarcantonioMF Toronto Metros-Croatia
6Sakib ViteškićMF Maastricht
7Thomas RongenMF Los Angeles Aztecs
9József HorváthMF Rochester Lancers
10Gary DarrellMF Montreal Olympique
12Wim JansenMF Feyenoord
14Johan CruyffMF Los Angeles Aztecs
29Danny MolendykMF Washington Huskies
Forwards
7Art WelchFW Wichita Wings
13Tony CrescitelliFW North Adams State Trailblazers
15Ken MokgojoaFW Benoni United[4][5]
17Sonny AskewFW Essex Knights
22Steve ByrdFW
23Mario Benito LunaFW
25Bobby StokesFW Portsmouth
28Alan GreenFW 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
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
  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. The Washington Post Company. 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.
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