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 →

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

Main article: 1988 National Soccer League

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
 Reports[2]
Penalties
 4–5
Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 17,064
Referee: Chris Bambridge
GK Australia Tony Franken
DF Australia Wally Savor downward-facing red arrow 91'
DF Australia Graham Jennings
DF Australia Alan Hunter
DF Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vedran Rožić
DF Australia Mark Jones
MF Australia Shane Clinch
MF Australia Robbie Slater
MF Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ivan Petkovic Red card 63'
FW Australia Graham Arnold
FW Papua New Guinea Manis Lamond downward-facing red arrow 115'
Substitutes:
MF Australia Craig Foster upward-facing green arrow 91'
FW Australia Sean Ingham upward-facing green arrow 115'
Head coach:
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vedran Rožić
GK England Bob Catlin
DF Australia Paul Carter
DF Australia Tony Henderson
DF Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Steve Calderan
DF Costa Rica Gerry Gomez Red card 65'
MF Australia Matteo Colucci downward-facing red arrow 15'
MF Australia Ian Gray
MF Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zlatko Nastevski
MF Australia Peter Katholos
MF Australia David Lowe downward-facing red arrow 65'
FW Australia Frank Farina
Substitutes:
DF Australia Robert Wheatley upward-facing green arrow 15'
FW New Zealand Fred de Jong upward-facing green arrow 115'
Head coach:
Australia 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.
Categories