1988 National Soccer League grand final

1988 National Soccer League Grand Final
Event1988 National Soccer League
Marconi Fairfield won 5–4 on penalties
Date3 September 1988
VenueParramatta Stadium, Sydney
RefereeChris Beath
Attendance17,064

The 1988 National Soccer League Grand Final was the fourth National Soccer League Grand Final, the championship-deciding match of the Australian National Soccer League and the culmination of the 1988 season. The match was played between Sydney Croatia and Marconi Fairfield on 3 September 1988 at Parramatta Stadium in Sydney.

This was the first NSL Grand Final for both teams. Marconi Fairfield won 5–4 on penalties after a 2–2 draw[1] and is the first club to win the national league championship from fourth place. It was also the first Australian National League Grand Final to feature two teams from the same city, with both teams representing Sydney.

Teams

Team Previous grand final appearances
Sydney Croatia None
Marconi Fairfield None

Route to the final

Sydney Croatia

Round Sydney Croatia
Regular season 2nd placed
Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Wollongong City 26 34
2 Sydney Croatia 26 34
3 South Melbourne 26 34
4 Marconi Fairfield (C) 26 32
5 Sydney Olympic 26 27
Source: rsssf.com
(C) Champions
Major semi-final Opponent Score
Wollongong Wolves 0–0 (4–3 p) (A)

Marconi Fairfield

Round Marconi Fairfield
Regular season 4th placed
Pos Team Pld Pts
2 Sydney Croatia 26 34
3 South Melbourne 26 34
4 Marconi Fairfield (C) 26 32
5 Sydney Olympic 26 27
6 Adelaide City 26 27
Source: rsssf.com
(C) Champions
Elimination semi-final Opponent Score
Sydney Olympic 3–1 (H)
Minor semi-final Opponent Score
South Melbourne 2–1 (A)
Preliminary Final Opponent Score
Wollongong City 2–0 (A)

Match

Details

Sydney Croatia2–2 (a.e.t.)Marconi Fairfield
  • Hunter 57'
  • Lamond 108'
Reports[2]
Penalties
4–5
Attendance: 17,064
GK Tony Franken
DF Wally Savor  91'
DF Graham Jennings
DF Alan Hunter
DF Vedran Rožić
DF Mark Jones
MF Shane Clinch
MF Robbie Slater
MF Ivan Petkovic  63'
FW Graham Arnold
FW Manis Lamond  115'
Substitutes:
MF Craig Foster  91'
FW Sean Ingham  115'
Head coach:
Vedran Rožić
GK Bob Catlin
DF Paul Carter
DF Tony Henderson
DF Steve Calderan
DF Gerry Gomez  65'
MF Matteo Colucci  15'
MF Ian Gray
MF Zlatko Nastevski
MF Peter Katholos
MF David Lowe  65'
FW Frank Farina
Substitutes:
DF Robert Wheatley  15'
FW Fred de Jong  115'
Head coach:
Berti Mariani

Assistant referees:
Fourth official:

Match rules

See also

References

  1. ^ "MARCONI'S TRIUMPH". Australian Soccer Weekly. Vol. 9, no. 353. 7 September 1998. p. 5.
  2. ^ "1988 NSL Results". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 30 December 2022.