Wikipedia

1988 National Soccer League Grand Final

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.

1988 National Soccer League Grand Final
Event1988 National Soccer League
Sydney Croatia Marconi Fairfield
2 2
Marconi Fairfield won 5–4 on penalties
Date3 September 1988
VenueParramatta Stadium, Sydney
RefereeChris Beath
Attendance17,064
← 1986
1989 →

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 edit

Team Previous grand final appearances
Sydney Croatia None
Marconi Fairfield None

Route to the final edit

Main article: 1988 National Soccer League

Sydney Croatia edit

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 edit

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 edit

Details edit

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 edit

References edit

  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.
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