1978 NSL Cup

Football tournament season
1978 NSL Cup
National Soccer League Cup
Tournament details
CountryAustralia
Dates10 May – 8 October 1978
Teams32
Final positions
ChampionsBrisbane City (2nd title)
Runner-upAdelaide City
Tournament statistics
Matches played31
Goals scored90 (2.9 per match)
Attendance67,312 (2,171 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Branko Culina
Barry Kelso
(4 goals each)
← 1977
1979 →

The 1978 NSL Cup was the second edition of the NSL Cup, which was the main national association football knockout cup competition in Australia. The competition was known as the Philips Cup under a sponsorship arrangement with Dutch company Philips.[1]

Defending champions Brisbane City defeated Adelaide City 2–1 in the final to win their second and back-to-back NSL Cup title.[2]

Teams

The NSL Cup was a knockout competition with 32 teams taking part all trying to reach the Final in October 1978.[3] The competition consisted of the 14 teams from the National Soccer League plus 18 teams from their respective top division state leagues.

Round Main date Number of fixtures Clubs remaining
First round Wednesday 24 May 1978 16 32 → 16
Second round Wednesday 19 July 1978 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals Sunday 24 September 1978 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals Sunday 1 October 1978 2 4 → 2
Final Sunday 24 September 1978 1 2 → 1

First round

Canberra City (1) v West Woden Juventus (2)
10 May 1978 Canberra City (1) 4–0West Woden Juventus (2)Queanbeyan
 Report Stadium: Seiffert Oval
White Eagles (2) v Essendon Croatia (2)
10 May 1978 White Eagles (2)0–2 Essendon Croatia (2) Hobart
Report
Attendance: 900
Referee: Ron Proctor
Fitzroy United (1) v Prahran Slavia (2)
17 May 1978 Fitzroy United (1) 6–3Prahran Slavia (2)Melbourne
20:45 AEST
  • Bozikas 25', 44', 53'
  • Campbell 71', 79'
  • Cole 72'
 Report
  • Miller 30'
  • Paton 67'
  • Train 90'
 Stadium: Olympic Park Stadium
George Cross (2) v Juventus (2)
17 May 1978 George Cross (2) 1–0Juventus (2)Melbourne
18:45 AEST
  • Cullen 2'
 Report Stadium: Olympic Park Stadium
St George (1) v APIA Leichhardt (2)
17 May 1978 St George (1) 2–1APIA Leichhardt (2)Sydney
20:00 AEST
  • J. O'Shea 35'
  • Hensman 84'
 Report
  • Jack 77'
 Stadium: Garside Park
Attendance: 722
Weston Bears (2) v Newcastle KB United (1)
17 May 1978 Weston Bears (2)1–2 Newcastle KB United (1) Weston
  • JJ. Turnbull 12'
 Report
Stadium: Weston Park
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Alf Rodway
Adelaide City (1) v Noarlunga United (2)
24 May 1978 Adelaide City (1) 5–0Noarlunga United (2)Adelaide
 Report Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
Ascot (2) v West Adelaide (1)
24 May 1978 Ascot (2)1–4 West Adelaide (1) Perth
 Report
  • Honeyman 30', 86'
  • McGregor 55'
  • Norris 85'
 Stadium: Litis Stadium
Beograd Woodville (2) v Eastern Districts Azzurri (2)
24 May 1978 Beograd Woodville (2) 2–1Eastern Districts Azzurri (2)Adelaide
  • Jankovic 6'
  • Kamleitner 11'
 Report
  • Russo 86'
 Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
Brisbane Lions (1) v Annerley (2)
24 May 1978 Brisbane Lions (1) 7–0Annerley (2)Brisbane
 Report Stadium: Perry Park
Sydney Olympic (1) v Auburn (2)
24 May 1978 Sydney Olympic (1) 2–0Auburn (2)Sydney
  • Laing 45'
  • Allan 68'
 Report Stadium: Garside Park
Attendance: 1,000
Footscray JUST (1) v South Melbourne (1)
31 May 1978 Footscray JUST (1)1–2 South Melbourne (1) Melbourne
Report
Stadium: Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 3,000
Southside Eagles (2) v Eastern Suburbs Hakoah (1)
31 May 1978 Southside Eagles (2)1–2 Eastern Suburbs Hakoah (1) Brisbane
  • Millman 37'
 Report
Stadium: Perry Park
Referee: Dave Nugent
Brisbane City (1) v St George-Souths (2)
14 June 1978 Brisbane City (1) 1–0St George-Souths (2)Brisbane
  • Coyne 16'
 Report Stadium: Perry Park
Referee: Jack Wood
Marconi (1) v Sydney Croatia (2)
21 June 1978 Marconi (1)0–0
(3–4 p)		 Sydney Croatia (2) Sydney
Report Stadium: Marconi Oval
Attendance: 4,175
Referee: Tim Davies

Second round

Adelaide City (1) v West Adelaide (1)
19 July 1978 Adelaide City (1) 1–0West Adelaide (1)Adelaide
  • Marwe 76'
 Report Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
Attendance: 6,856
Referee: Graham Neal
Brisbane City (1) v Brisbane Lions (1)
19 July 1978 Brisbane City (1) 0–0
(5–4 p)		Brisbane Lions (1)Brisbane
Report Stadium: Perry Park
Referee: Dave Nugent
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah (1) v Sydney Olympic (1)
19 July 1978 Eastern Suburbs Hakoah (1) 4–0Sydney Olympic (1)Sydney
  • Souness 17'
  • Barnes 21'
  • Smith 68', 73'
 Report Stadium: Wentworth Park
Attendance: 1,023
Referee: Tim Davies
Western Suburbs (1) v St George (1)
19 July 1978 Western Suburbs (1) 1–0St George (1)Sydney
  • Eaton 4'
 Report Stadium: Wentworth Park
Attendance: 1,023
Referee: Henry Witschge
Beograd Woodville (2) v Essendon Croatia (2)
26 July 1978 Beograd Woodville (2)0–5 Essendon Croatia (2) Adelaide
Report
  • Culina 45', 52', 63'
  • Gilder 69'
  • Davidson 79'
 Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Dennis Stanley
Fitzroy United (1) v South Melbourne (1)
2 August 1978 Fitzroy United (1) 2–1 (a.e.t.)South Melbourne (1)Melbourne
 Report
Stadium: Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Chris Bambridge
George Cross (1) v Canberra City (1)
2 August 1978 George Cross (1)2–3 Canberra City (1) Melbourne
  • Paparas 26'
  • Reed 65'
 Report
  • Davies 42'
  • Byrne 62'
  • Grujicic 70'
 Stadium: Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Chris Bambridge
Newcastle KB United (1) v Sydney Croatia (2)
2 August 1978 Newcastle KB United (1) 2–0Sydney Croatia (2)Newcastle
 Report Stadium: Newcastle International Sports Centre
Attendance: 3,544
Referee: Bill Jones

Quarter-finals

Newcastle KB United (1) v Western Suburbs (1)
3 September 1978 Newcastle KB United (1) 1–0Western Suburbs (1)Newcastle
  • Tredinnick 86'
 Report Stadium: Newcastle International Sports Centre
Attendance: 6,417
Referee: Jack Wood
Brisbane City (1) v Eastern Suburbs Hakoah (1)
24 September 1978 Brisbane City (1) 3–0Eastern Suburbs Hakoah (1)Brisbane
  • Caldwell 48' (pen.)
  • Kelso 82', ?'
 Report Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Stewart Mellings
Canberra City (1) v Fitzroy United (1)
24 September 1978 Canberra City (1) 1–1Fitzroy United (1)Canberra
 Report
Stadium: Canberra Stadium
Essendon Croatia (2) v Adelaide City (1)
24 September 1978 Essendon Croatia (2)0–1 Adelaide City (1) Melbourne
Report Stadium: Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Richard Lorenc

Semi-finals

Adelaide City (1) v Canberra City (1)
1 October 1978 Adelaide City (1) 3–1Canberra City (1)Adelaide
  • Marwe 8'
  • Muniz 52', 89'
 Report Stadium: Olympic Sports Field
Attendance: 2,651
Referee: Tim Davies
Brisbane City (1) v Newcastle KB United (1)
1 October 1978 Brisbane City (1) 2–0 (a.e.t.)Newcastle KB United (1)Brisbane
  • Caldwell 105' (pen.)
  • Kelso 119'
 Report Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Henry Witschge

Final

Brisbane City2–1Adelaide City
  • Kelso 28'
  • Pimblett 77'
 Report
Attendance: 4,964
Referee: Tony Boskovic

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Australia Branko Culina Essendon Croatia 4
Australia Barry Kelso Brisbane City
3 Australia Andy Bozikas Fitzroy United 3
Australia Tony Henderson Canberra City

References

  1. ^ "Clash for Cup spot". The Age. 17 May 1978. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  2. ^ "PHILIPS CUP TO BRISBANE". Soccer World. 12 October 1978. p. 6.
  3. ^ Stock, Greg. "1978 National Soccer League Cup Results". OzFootball.
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