1997 National Soccer League Grand Final

Football match
1997 National Soccer League Grand Final
Event1996–97 National Soccer League
Brisbane Strikers Sydney United
2 0
Date25 May 1997 (1997-05-25)
VenueLang Park, Brisbane, Australia
Man of the MatchAlan Hunter
(Joe Marston Medal)
RefereeSimon Micallef
Attendance40,446
← 1996
1998 →

The 1997 National Soccer League Grand Final was held on 25 May 1997 between Brisbane Strikers and Sydney United at Lang Park. Brisbane gained home advantage because despite finishing below United on the league standings, they defeated the Sydney side in the major semi-final two weeks earlier. The teams were all locked up at half time, however two goals for the Strikers by Frank Farina and Rod Brown secured their first NSL championship.[1][2][3] Alan Hunter won the Joe Marston Medal.

Route to the final

League Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sydney United 26 17 5 4 67 33 +34 56 1997 National Soccer League Finals
2 Brisbane Strikers (C) 26 15 2 9 55 40 +15 47 1996-97 National Soccer League Champions
3 South Melbourne 26 14 4 8 39 25 +14 46 1997 National Soccer League Finals
4 Adelaide City 26 11 10 5 32 22 +10 43
5 Marconi Stallions 26 12 4 10 41 37 +4 40
6 Melbourne Knights 26 11 6 9 36 32 +4 39
7 Perth Glory 26 11 5 10 48 41 +7 38
8 West Adelaide 26 10 3 13 39 51 −12 33
9 UTS Olympic 26 8 8 10 41 46 −5 32
10 Wollongong Wolves 26 8 8 10 42 48 −6 32
11 Newcastle Breakers 26 7 9 10 40 46 −6 30
12 Gippsland Falcons 26 8 6 12 33 41 −8 30
13 Collingwood Warriors (R) 26 6 9 11 32 44 −12 27 Disbanded at end of season
14 Canberra Cosmos 26 2 5 19 30 69 −39 11
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Finals Bracket

Match

Details

Brisbane Strikers2 – 0Sydney United
Farina 47'
Brown 69'		 Reports[4]
Attendance: 40,446
Referee: Simon Micallef
GK 1 Australia Clint Bolton
DF 2 Australia Glen Gwynne downward-facing red arrow 88'
DF 3 Australia Alan Hunter
FW 5 Australia Frank Farina downward-facing red arrow 80'
MF 6 Australia Sean Cranney
FW 7 Australia Rod Brown
FW 9 Australia Danny Wright
MF 11 Australia Troy Cranney
MF 15 Australia Chay Hews downward-facing red arrow 79'
DF 16 Australia Kasey Wehrman
FW 17 Australia Craig Williams
Substitutes:
FW 8 Australia Matt Bell upward-facing green arrow 88'
FW 10 Australia Reece Tollenaere upward-facing green arrow 80'
MF 12 Australia Jeremy Harris upward-facing green arrow 79'
Manager:
Australia Frank Farina

Joe Marston Medal:
Alan Hunter (Brisbane Strikers)
GK 1 Australia Zeljko Kalac
DF 2 Australia Rob Trajkovski downward-facing red arrow 63'
DF 5 Australia Velimir Kupresak
DF 7 Australia Mark Babic
MF 10 Australia Richard Plesa
MF 11 Australia Kresimir Marusic
MF 12 Australia Ante Moric
FW 14 Australia Ante Milicic
MF 15 Australia Aytec Genc
FW 17 Australia David Zdrilic
MF 23 Australia Paul Bilokapic downward-facing red arrow 81'
Substitutes:
MF 3 Australia Jason Culina upward-facing green arrow 63'
DF 25 Australia Mark Rudan upward-facing green arrow 81'
Manager:
Australia Branko Culina

Assistant referees:
Fourth official:

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.

References

  1. ^ "Australian National League" (PDF). Hyundai A-League season guide 2019–20: 322.
  2. ^ "1997 National Soccer League Playoff results". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  3. ^ Lutton, Phil (10 March 2011). "Strikers miracle to spur on Roar". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  4. ^ "1997 NSL Final". Oz Football. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
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