1983 NASL Grand Prix of Indoor Soccer

Overview

The NASL franchises from Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, Montreal, and Tulsa opted to play the Grand Prix in early 1983 as a makeshift indoor season, because for various reasons, the eight other NASL clubs had chosen to forego playing a full 1982–83 NASL indoor season. Three of those eight teams (Chicago, Golden Bay and San Diego) had joined the Major Indoor Soccer League for 1982-83 season, while the remaining five squads chose to sit out winter indoor play completely.

The tournament consisted of three weeks of double round-robin play for the purpose of seeding, followed by a Championship weekend at the Forum in Montreal. Fort Lauderdale did not host a round because there was no suitable venue in the area that also met the minimum seating requirements. Instead, Tulsa hosted Rounds 1 and 3. The tournament would mark the third time NASL teams played in such an event, with the first two coming in 1975 and 1976. Additionally the teams participated in a season-long Shootout Challenge competition, the champions of which would split a $5,000 purse.

Montreal and Tampa Bay finished tied on both points and record after the preliminary rounds, but Montreal held the head-to-head tie-breaker, and with it the top seed. Tampa Bay won the championship final 5–4 on a golden goal by Mark Karpun at 1:58 of the second, seven and a half minute, overtime period. This victory marked the Rowdies' third indoor trophy and fourth title overall in the NASL. Laurie Abrahams of Tulsa led all scorers (12 goals, 6 assists) and was named the offensive MVP, while Montreal goalie Mehdi Cerbah who posted a 4.36 goals-against-average was the defensive MVP of the tournament. Tampa Bay also won the $5,000 Shootout Challenge purse by defeating Ft. Lauderdale, 2–0, with Rowdies goalie Jürgen Stars stopping all three Strikers shots in the final round.

Map of clubs

necks](tulsa-roughnecks-1978-1984)**}}

Preliminary rounds

Round 1

played at Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Round 2

played at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida

Round 3

played at the Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Seeding

G = Games, W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, GD = Goal Differential, PTS= point system

6 points awarded for a win. Beginning with the fourth goal, 1 bonus point awarded for each goal scored. Maximum of 5 bonus points per game.

*Montreal wins top seed based on 2–0 head-to-head edge over Tampa Bay

Grand Prix Championship rounds

Bracket

| score-width=25 | RD1-seed1=1 | RD1-team1=Montreal Manic | RD1-score1=11 | RD1-seed2=4 | RD1-team2=Fort Lauderdale Strikers | RD1-score2=4

| RD1-seed3=3 | RD1-team3=Tulsa Roughnecks | RD1-score3=6 | RD1-seed4=2 | RD1-team4=Tampa Bay Rowdies | RD1-score4=8

| RD2-seed1=1 | RD2-team1=Montreal Manic | RD2-score1=4 | RD2-seed2=2 | RD2-team2=Tampa Bay Rowdies | RD2-score2=5*(2OT)*

| RD2b-seed1 =3 | RD2b-team1 =Tulsa Roughnecks | RD2b-score1 =9 | RD2b-seed2 =4 | RD2b-team2 =Fort Lauderdale Strikers | RD2b-score2 =4

Semi-finals

played at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec

Third-place match

played at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec (1:30 PM EST)

Championship final

Mitchell Mitchell Lodeweges Perez Nogly Zequinha Karpun 1983 Indoor Grand Prix Champions: Tampa Bay Rowdies

Tournament awards

• Most Valuable Players:
• Offensive: ENG Laurie Abrahams (Tulsa) - Goals: 12 Assists: 6 Total Pts: 30
• Defensive: ALG Mehdi Cerbah (Montreal) Goals-against-average: 4.36
• $5,000 Shootout Challenge:
• Semi-finals: Tampa Bay 3 – 1 Tulsa • Fort Lauderdale 3 – 1 Montreal
• Finals: Tampa Bay 2 – 0 Fort Lauderdale

Final rankings

G = Games, W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, GD = Goal Differential

Statistics

Non-grand prix matches

In addition to the Grand Prix tournament, the four teams took part in other indoor matches as tune-ups for both the outdoor season and the Grand Prix itself.

Match reports

Bolitho Šegota Danaeifard Pesa Karpun Zequinha Van der Beck McLeod Pérez Report 2 Saldana Saldana Van der Beck McLeod Karpun Roe Tatu Oliveira Tatu Pérez Nogly Van der Beck Willey Usiyan Usiyan Mitchell Karpun Miller Karpun Gruber Molina Bates Oliveira Cubillas Kidd Meschbach Kidd

References

References

1. (January 21, 1983). "Rowdies take on Montreal". Lakeland Ledger.
2. Beard, Randy. (February 15, 1983). "Rowdies' pair united in feelings toward Team America and coach". The Evening Independent.
3. (February 20, 1983). "Manic, Rowdies Clash Today". Youngstown Vindicator.
4. (December 12, 1982). "Rowdies enter touney". Lakeland Ledger.
5. Johnson, Mark. (February 21, 1983). "Rowdies win Grand Prix on Karpun's goal in OT". St. Petersburg Times.
6. Allen, Diane Lacy. (February 23, 1983). "Rowdies meet Strikers at Civic Center". Lakeland Ledger.
7. Beard, Randy. (February 21, 1983). "Championship effort carried Rowdies to title". The Evening Independent.
8. (October 4, 1983). "Miller resigns as Rowdies coach". Lakeland Ledger.
9. (October 4, 1983). "Manic win opener". The Montreal Gazette.
10. (January 24, 1983). "Injury takes edge off Rowdies' victory". The Evening Independent.
11. (February 7, 1983). "Rowdies whip Strikers in Grand Prix Soccer". Lakeland Ledger.
12. (February 5, 1983). "Manic triumph". The Montreal Gazette.
13. Beard, Randy. (February 19, 1983). "Power play went short-handed Rowdies' way". The Evening Independent.