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 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 TeamPrevious grand final appearancesSydney CroatiaNoneMarconi FairfieldNone
Route to the final
Sydney Croatia RoundSydney CroatiaRegular season2nd placedMajor semi-finalOpponentScoreWollongong Wolves0–0 (A)
Marconi Fairfield RoundMarconi FairfieldRegular season4th placedElimination semi-finalOpponentScoreSydney Olympic3–1 (H)Minor semi-finalOpponentScoreSouth Melbourne2–1 (A)Preliminary FinalOpponentScoreWollongong City2–0 (A)
Match
Details
GK Tony FrankenDF Wally SavorDF Graham JenningsDF Alan HunterDF Vedran RožićDF Mark JonesMF Shane ClinchMF Robbie SlaterMF Ivan PetkovicFW Graham ArnoldFW Manis LamondSubstitutes:MF Craig FosterFW Sean InghamHead coach: Vedran Rožić GK Bob CatlinDF Paul CarterDF Tony HendersonDF Steve CalderanDF Gerry GomezMF Matteo ColucciMF Ian GrayMF Zlatko NastevskiMF Peter KatholosMF David LoweFW Frank FarinaSubstitutes:DF Robert WheatleyFW Fred de JongHead coach: Berti Mariani
Assistant referees: Fourth official:Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
See also 1988 National Soccer League
References