Forty-two summers ago, Canadian soccer fans were, like today, watching a team with Croatia in its name do something special.

That squad was the Toronto Metros-Croatia, a struggling franchise in the 20-team North American Soccer League.

Ongoing struggles

The Metros-Croatia team had difficulty drawing fans and staying afloat as an organization — it was financial need, in fact, that drew investors into the mix who insisted that the word "Croatia" be appended to the name of the pre-existing Metros team.

That name change happened in 1975, a year before the Metros-Croatia squad had its successful playoff run.

And yet, in 1976, the NASL remained so frustrated with the franchise over the name change that the team's playoff-bound trajectory occurred with "anything but league blessings," according to a Toronto Star report.

A brewery had tried to buy the team, but the owners didn't want to sell. That frustrated the league, too, as CBC reporter Joe Cote explains in the clip below.

A brewery wanted to buy the Metros-Croatia soccer team, but the owners didn't want to sell. 0:24

Taking down the Kicks

In the end, the Metros-Croatia put together a 1976 season that included a multi-game winning streak that helped them make it to the final.

In August 1976, members of the Toronto Metros-Croatia soccer team return home after winning the NASL championship. (CBC News/CBC Archives)

And when they got there, they made it count.

On Aug. 28, 1976, the Metros-Croatia beat the Minnesota Kicks — a great name for a soccer team, for sure — by a score of 3-0.

When the Metros-Croatia returned to Canada the day after their win, they were greeted by a crowd of hundreds of fans at Toronto's Pearson airport.