1999 National Soccer League Grand Final

The 1999 National Soccer League Grand Final, also known as the 1999 Ericsson Cup Grand Final, was held on 30 May 1999 between South Melbourne and Sydney United at Olympic Park Stadium. South Melbourne gained home advantage as although Sydney United finished higher in the regular season, South Melbourne won the major semi-final against them two weeks prior. Mile Sterjovski scored first for United as they went up 1–0 at the half time break, however, a goal from Paul Trimboli and a brace from John Anastasiadis sealed South Melbourne's second consecutive championship and fourth overall. Goran Lozanovski won the Joe Marston Medal.[1][2]

1999 National Soccer League Grand Final
Event1998–99 National Soccer League
Date30 May 1999 (1999-05-30)
VenueOlympic Park Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Man of the MatchGoran Lozanovski
(Joe Marston Medal)
RefereeSimon Michallef
Attendance15,194
1998
2000

Background

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Sydney United finished the season with the minor premiership through a 3–1 win over the Adelaide Sharks on the final day of the season. South Melbourne finished one point from first place.[3][4]

Route to the final

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League Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sydney United 28 18 4 6 53 33 +20 58 1999 National Soccer League Finals
2 South Melbourne (C) 28 17 6 5 50 26 +24 57 1999 Oceania Club Championship
3 Perth Glory 28 16 5 7 62 37 +25 53 1999 National Soccer League Finals
4 Marconi Stallions 28 15 3 10 53 47 +6 48
5 Northern Spirit 28 14 4 10 36 35 +1 46
6 Adelaide City 28 13 6 9 39 26 +13 45
7 Sydney Olympic 28 12 7 9 46 36 +10 43
8 Newcastle Breakers 28 11 7 10 29 33 −4 40
9 Brisbane Strikers 28 11 6 11 41 47 −6 39
10 Wollongong Wolves 28 8 8 12 45 52 −7 32
11 Carlton SC 28 9 4 15 47 47 0 31
12 Melbourne Knights 28 8 5 15 32 43 −11 29
13 West Adelaide (R) 28 7 6 15 36 46 −10 27 Disbanded at end of season
14 Gippsland Falcons 28 5 10 13 17 44 −27 25
15 Canberra Cosmos 28 4 3 21 21 55 −34 15
Updated to match(es) played on 25 April 1999. Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Finals Bracket

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Elimination FinalsMajor/Minor SemifinalsPreliminary FinalGrand Final
9 & 16 May 1999
2South Melbourne202South Melbourne3
1Sydney United10123 May 1999Sydney United2
1Sydney United2
6Adelaide City011
15 May 19993Perth Glory1
3Perth Glory022
3Perth Glory1
4Marconi Stallions0
5Northern Spirit011
4Marconi Stallions022

Match

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Details

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South Melbourne3 – 2Sydney United
Trimboli   53'
Anastasiadis   63', 87'
Reports[5] Sterjovski   8'
Townsend   90+'
Attendance: 15,194
Referee: Simon Michallef

Assistant referees:
Fourth official:

Match rules

Post-match

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The match served as a qualifier for the 1999 Oceania Club Championship.[7] South Melbourne qualified easily for the championship final, conceding just one goal in the group stage and defeating Tahitian club A.S. Vénus 3–0 in the semifinal. They qualified for the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship with a 5–0 win in the final. At the Club World Championship, South Melbourne finished fourth in their group, eighth overall, without recording a win and scoring one goal.


References

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  1. ^ Cockerill, Michael (31 May 1999). "Sunk by a sub". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Cockerill, Ian (31 May 1999). "Fairytales are reserved for Souths". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Gatt, Ray (26 April 1999). "Pumas secure minor premiership National Soccer League". Sport. The Australian. p. 24.
  4. ^ Mangan, Patrick (30 May 1999). "Premiership today, the world next?". The Sunday Age. p. 10.
  5. ^ "1999 National Soccer League Playoff results". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  6. ^ Majid, Sham (20 April 2013). "Grand final recollections: David Mitchell". Goal.com. DAZN Media. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  7. ^ Warren, Johnny (30 May 1999). "World champs is golden goal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.