The 1981 NSL Cup was the fifth edition of the NSL Cup, which was the main national association football knockout cup competition in Australia.

1981 NSL Cup
National Soccer League Cup
Tournament details
CountryAustralia
Dates21 March – 20 September 1981
Teams36
Final positions
ChampionsBrisbane Lions (1st title)
Runner-upHeidelberg United
Tournament statistics
Matches played35
Goals scored114 (3.26 per match)
Attendance93,903 (2,683 per match)
← 1980
1982 →

Marconi Fairfield were the defending champions, having defeated Heidelberg United to win their first title in the previous year's final, but they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Brisbane Lions.

Brisbane Lions defeated West Adelaide 3–1 in the final to win their first NSL Cup title.[1]

Teams

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The NSL Cup was a knockout competition with 36 teams taking part all trying to reach the Final in September 1981.[2] The competition consisted of the 16 teams from the National Soccer League plus 20 teams from their respective top division state leagues.

Round Main date Number of fixtures Clubs remaining
First round Sunday 22 March 1981 16 36 → 20
Second round Wednesday 6 May 1981 10 20 → 10
Third round Tuesday 16 June 1981 2 10 → 8
Quarter-finals Wednesday 17 June 1981 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals Wednesday 5 August 1981 2 4 → 2
Final Sunday 20 September 1981 1 2 → 1

First round

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8 February 1981 Brisbane City (1) 1–0Mount Gravatt (2)Brisbane
  • Wilkinson   38'
Report Stadium: Perry Park
8 February 1981 Adelaide City (1) 4–2Adelaide Croatia (2)Adelaide
Report
Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
4 March 1981 St Kilda Hakoah (2) 3–2Brunswick United Juventus (2)Melbourne
Report
Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Dennis Voutsinas
4 March 1981 Preston Makedonia (1) 3–1Footscray JUST (1)Melbourne
Report
Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Chris Bambridge
11 March 1981 Essendon Croatia (2) 3–1Green Gully Ajax (2)Melbourne
Report
Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 6,300
Referee: Jim Fearn
11 March 1981 Heidelberg United (1) 2–0South Melbourne (1)Melbourne
Report Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 6,300
Referee: Dennis Voutsinas
11 March 1981 West Adelaide (1) 3–0Para Hills (2)Adelaide
Report Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
21 March 1981 Wollongong Wolves (1) 3–0Downer Olympic (2)Wollongong
Report Stadium: Memorial Park
Attendance: 815
Referee: Ken Small
22 March 1981 Canberra City (1) 2–1Newcastle KB United (1)Canberra
Report
Stadium: Bruce Stadium
Attendance: 3,025
Referee: Tim Davies
22 March 1981 Sydney City (1) 3–0Blacktown City (1)Newcastle
Report Stadium: Newcastle International Sports Centre
Attendance: 1,310
Referee: Alf Rodway
22 March 1981 Weston Bears (2) 1–0Rapid Wrest Point (2)Newcastle
Report Stadium: Macquarie Field
Attendance: 2,000
22 March 1981 Edgeworth Eagles (2)1–2 Sydney Olympic (1) Newcastle
Report
Stadium: Macquarie Field
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Alf Rodway
29 March 1981 APIA Leichhardt (1) 3–2Auburn (2)Sydney
Report
Stadium: Everley Park
Referee: Richard Lorenc
29 March 1981 Marconi Fairfield (1) 2–1Melita Eagles (2)Sydney
Report
Stadium: Everley Park
Referee: Gary Power
29 April 1981 Townsville United (2)0–3 Brisbane Lions (1) Townsville
Report
Stadium: Townsville Sports Reserve
Attendance: 1,400
Referee: A. Barrell

Second round

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22 March 1981 Adelaide City (1) 3–1Olympic Kingsway (2)Adelaide
Report
  • (unknown)   ?', ?'
Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
Attendance: 6,328
Referee: Bobby Kerr
22 March 1981 West Adelaide (1) 3–2Cumberland United (2)Adelaide
Report
Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
Attendance: 6,328
Referee: Barry Harwood
25 March 1981 St Kilda Hakoah (2) 3–1Essendon Croatia (2)Melbourne
Report
Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Jack Johnston
25 March 1981 Heidelberg United (1) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)
Preston Makedonia (1)Melbourne
Report
Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Bob Mee
Penalties
6 May 1981 Marconi Fairfield (1) 1–0Canterbury Marickville (2)Sydney
Report Stadium: Marconi Oval
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Arthur Owens
6 May 1981 Sydney City (1) 1–0 (a.e.t.)Weston Bears (2)Sydney
Report Stadium: Marconi Oval
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Ken Allen
6 May 1981 Wollongong City (1)2–4 (a.e.t.) APIA Leichhardt (1) Wollongong
Report
Stadium: Woonona Oval
Referee: Tony Boskovic
6 May 1981 Brisbane Lions (1) 2–0Grange Thistle (2)Brisbane
Report Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 300
Referee: Jack Wood
8 June 1981 Canberra City (1)2–4 Sydney Olympic (1) Canberra
Report
Stadium: Bruce Stadium
Attendance: 4,300
Referee: Tim Davies
8 June 1981 Brisbane City (1) 3–0Mareeba United (2)Brisbane
Report Stadium: Spencer Park
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Col Amos

Third round

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27 May 1981 Marconi Fairfield (1) 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Sydney City (1)Sydney
Report
Stadium: Marconi Oval
Referee: Richard Lorenc
16 June 1981 APIA Leichhardt (1) 2–1Sydney Olympic (1)Sydney
Report
Stadium: Sydney Sports Ground
Attendance: 5,765
Referee: Chris Bambridge

Quarter-finals

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3 June 1981 Brisbane Lions (1) 1–0St Kilda Hakoah (2)Brisbane
Report Stadium: Richlands Stadium
Attendance: 600
Referee: Dave Nugent
17 June 1981 Heidelberg United (1)0–1 Adelaide City (1) Melbourne
Report
Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Tony Boskovic
17 June 1981 West Adelaide (1) 4–2Brisbane City (1)Adelaide
Report
Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
Attendance: 1,800
Referee: Jim Rossis
8 July 1981 APIA Leichhardt (1)1–3 Marconi Fairfield (1) Sydney
Report
Stadium: St George Stadium
Attendance: 3,800
Referee: Henry Witschge

Semi-finals

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29 July 1981 West Adelaide (1) 1–0Adelaide City (1)Adelaide
Report Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
Attendance: 6,200
Referee: Barry Harwood
5 August 1981 Marconi Fairfield (1)2–3 Brisbane Lions (1) Sydney
Report
Stadium: Marconi Oval
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Peter Rampley

Final

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Brisbane Lions3–1West Adelaide
Report
Attendance: 6,132

References

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  1. ^ "Dream start leads Lions to the Cup". Soccer Action. 23 September 1981. p. 2.
  2. ^ Stock, Greg. "1981 National Soccer League Cup Results". OzFootball.