League president: Joe Piccininni
League secretary: Ivan Habus
Preview
In January 1973 Hamilton Apollo decided to change their name to Hamilton City.
London City bought the NSL franchise rights from the London German-Canadians.
K.S. Polonia Toronto joined the league. The club strengthened its team during the season by signing Hamilton Polonia goalkeeper J. Philipa.
A new Montreal Cantalia club joined the league. Previous versions of the Cantalia club had been members of the NSL in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Referees
Referee-in-chief: Steve Sohuyko
Referees: Emerson Mathurin and Bill Divorski.
Review of the season
On Saturday May 19 Hamilton City defeated Ottawa Tigers 2-0 in Hamilton. Montreal Cantalia tied First Portuguese 1-1 in Toronto. On Sunday May 20 Serbian White Eagles walloped Ottawa Tigers 9-0. Slavko Dimic scored three goals, Dragi Denkovski and Lazi Erski scored two goals each, Mike Bakic and Slobodan Bukic eone each for Serbian White Eagles. Cantalia picked up another tie by playing to a 1-1 draw with Hamilton Italo-Canadians. Toronto Italia and London City played to a 2-2 draw. Bruno Caprara and Pedro Kozak scored for Italia, George Bonifert and Julio Rodriguez scored for London City. Toronto Hungaria defeated Kitchener 5-0. St. Catharines got their first win of the season. Tom Rae and Joe Casucci scored for St. Catharines.
On Sunday June 17 St. Catharines Heidelberg defeated Ottawa Tigers 2-1. Joe Jassucci and Jim Douglas scored for St. Catharines.
On July 14 Toronto Croatia defeated Ottawa Tigers 7-1 in Toronto. Alija Solak and Corcel Blair scored two goals each for Croatia, and Marijan Bilic, Francisco Montero and Goran Leskur scored one goal each. Carlos Costa scored Tigers’ only goal.
Toronto Croatia won the league championship.
Toronto Hungaria won the playoff championship.
Standings
National Soccer League Playoffs
Play-off final
October 19, 1973 at Stanley Park, Toronto
Attendance: 2,110
Toronto Hungaria 2 (Allan Callender, Tibor Molnar)
Toronto Croatia 1 (Aleja Solak)
National Soccer League Cup
First round
Second round
August ??, 1973
Toronto Croatia 3
Hamilton Croatia 0
Toronto Croatia qualified for the third round
Third round
August/September ??, 1973
Toronto Croatia vs
XX
NSL Cup Final
October 21, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Referee: Bill Divorski
Toronto Hungaria 3
Toronto Croatia 1
* Game cancelled with 30 minutes remaining due to a riot by fans.
Toronto Hungaria won the NSL Cup
Canadian Open Championship
October 28, 1973
Toronto Croatia 3
West Indies United 1
Toronto Croatia won the Canadian Open Championship
Exhibition games
May 23, 1973 C.N.E. Stadium, Toronto
Attendance: 13,281
Canada Selects 0
Arsenal 1 (Charlie George)
June 12, 1973 Lansdowne Park, Ottawa
Attendance: 2,500
Ottawa All-Stars 1 (Nino Flamini)
Belenenses (Portugal) 4 (Quinito 2, Pietra, Ramalho)
June 16, 1973 Stanley Park, Toronto
Attendance: 7,196
First Portuguese 0
Belenenses (Port.) 2 (Joaquim Ramalho, Francisco Gonzalez)
Sources: Toronto Star
