1992 National Soccer League season
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- Toronto Croatia (regular season, 5th title)
- Woodbridge Azzurri (playoffs, 1st title)
| Season | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Champions |
|
| League cup | Toronto Croatia |
| Top goalscorer | Enver Sej[1] |
| Best goalkeeper | Tony Camacho[1] |
← 1991 | |
The 1992 National Soccer League season was the sixty-ninth and final season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began May 8, 1992, with Richmond Hill Kick facing North York Atletico Argentina at Centennial Park Stadium.[2] The season concluded with Toronto Croatia securing the league double (NSL Championship and league cup).[3][4][5] Croatia would defeat the North York Atletico Argentina SC for the NSL Ontario Cup by a score of 2-1 at Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke, Ontario.[6]
The season marked the final usage of the National Soccer League banner and was changed to Canadian National Soccer League in 1993.[7] The change occurred due to the financial collapse of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) and its merger with the National Soccer League.[8]
Teams
The majority of the teams returned for the season with the addition of Richmond Hill Kick.[9] The departing clubs were North York Strikers and Scarborough International.[9] The playoff format was reinstated, with the top four teams qualifying for the tournament.[10]
Toronto Italia played in several friendly matches with notable Italian clubs such as Inter Milan and S.S. Lazio. Toronto initially faced Lazio on May 30, 1992, and later played Inter Milan on June 5, 1992, both of which ended in a losing effort.[11][12]
In late 1992, reports of financial instability regarding the Canadian Soccer League were becoming apparent as several of the league's Ontario clubs were expressing a desire to join the National Soccer League.[13] The following season, the Canadian Soccer League was suspended by the Canadian Soccer Association and was amalgamated into the National Soccer League and became known as the Canadian National Soccer League.[14][15]
| Team | City | Stadium | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| London City | London, Ontario | Cove Road Stadium | Harry Gauss[16] |
| Richmond Hill Kick | Richmond Hill, Ontario | Richmond Green Sports Centre | |
| North York Atletico Argentina | Toronto, Ontario | Lamport Stadium | Elio Garro[17] |
| St. Catharines Roma | St. Catharines, Ontario | Club Roma Stadium | Tony Novacic[18] |
| Toronto Croatia | Etobicoke, Ontario | Centennial Park Stadium | Vid Horvath[1] |
| Toronto Italia | Etobicoke, Ontario | Centennial Park Stadium | Ivan Marković[19] |
| Toronto Jets | North York, Ontario | Esther Shiner Stadium | |
| Windsor Wheels | Windsor, Ontario | Windsor Stadium | Waldir de Souza[20] |
| Woodbridge Azzuri | Vaughan, Ontario | Rainbow Park Stadium | Peter Pinizzotto[21] |
Final standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto Croatia (C) | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 10 | +28 | 26 | Qualification for Playoffs |
| 2 | Toronto Jets | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 22 | +6 | 22 | |
| 3 | St. Catharines Roma | 16 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 19 | |
| 4 | Woodbridge Azzuri (O) | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 20 | +15 | 19 | |
| 5 | Richmond Hill Kick | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 31 | 24 | +7 | 19 | |
| 6 | Toronto Italia | 16 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 15 | |
| 7 | London City | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 21 | −11 | 11 | |
| 8 | North York Atletico Argentina | 16 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 34 | −14 | 8 | |
| 9 | Windsor Wheels | 16 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 53 | −36 | 7 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Playoffs
Semifinals
| September 16, 1992 | St. Catharines Roma | 0–0 | Toronto Croatia | St. Catharines |
| 20:15 | [[23] Report] | Stadium: Club Roma Stadium Attendance: 300 |
| September 21, 1992 | Toronto Croatia | 2–2 | St. Catharines Roma | Etobicoke |
| 20:00 | John Coyle  9' Hrvote Kanisek 42' |
[[24] Report] | Devere Hurley 21' Roman Kezman 32' |
Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium |
St. Catharines won the series on away goals.
| September 16, 1992 | Toronto Jets | 1–1 | Woodbridge Azzurri | North York |
| [[25] Report] | Stadium: Esther Shiner Stadium |
| September 24, 1992 | Woodbridge Azzurri | 1–0 | Toronto Jets | Vaughan |
| [[25] Report] | Stadium: Rainbow Creek Stadium |
Woodbridge won the series 2–1 on aggregate.
Final
| September 27, 1992 | St. Catharines Roma | 0–1 | Woodbridge Azzurri | St. Catharines |
| 14:30 | [[26] Report] | Stadium: Club Roma Stadium |
| October 4, 1992 | Woodbridge Azzurri | 0–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | St. Catharines Roma | Vaughan |
| 14:30 | [[26] Report] | Rudy Pikuzinski |
Stadium: Rainbow Creek Stadium Attendance: 800 |
Woodbridge won the series on a penalty shootout.