1977 NSL Cup

Football tournament season
1977 NSL Cup
National Soccer League Cup
Tournament details
CountryAustralia
Dates20 September –
9 October 1977
Teams14
Final positions
ChampionsBrisbane City (1st title)
Runner-upMarconi-Fairfield
Tournament statistics
Matches played13
Goals scored41 (3.15 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Branko Buljevic
Gary Cole
Peter Sharne
(3 goals each)
← 1968 Australia Cup
1978 →

The 1977 NSL Cup was the first edition of the National Soccer League Cup, which was a national association football (soccer) knockout cup competition in Australia. All 14 NSL teams from around Australia entered the competition and it immediately followed the home and away season, as there was no final series.[1][2][3] The competition was known as the Philips Cup under a sponsorship arrangement with Dutch company Philips.

Background

The NSL Cup became a concept in January 1977 by the Australian Soccer Federation (now Football Australia) adopting the proposal to introduce a national knock-out competition for the first time in Australian soccer.[4] It was proposed that all 14 NSL teams would enter along with other state league champions, but didn't feature state league teams for this edition until the next edition in 1978.

Teams

The NSL Cup was a knockout competition with 14 teams taking part all trying to reach the Final in October 1977.[5] The competition consisted of the 14 teams from the National Soccer League.

Round Main date Number of fixtures Clubs remaining
First round Tuesday 20 September 1977 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals Sunday 2 October 1977 3 8 → 4
Semi-finals Thursday 6 October 1977 2 4 → 2
Final Sunday 9 October 1977 1 2 → 1

First round

West Adelaide v Adelaide City
20 September West Adelaide 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
Adelaide CityAdelaide
Report
  • Boyle 70' (o.g.)
  • Northcote 84'
Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium
Attendance: 8,656
Western Suburbs v Sydney Olympic
20 September Western Suburbs 2–1Sydney OlympicSydney
  • Turnbull 31', 78'
Report Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Attendance: 2,237
Referee: Tim Davies
Brisbane City v Brisbane Lions
21 September Brisbane City 3–2Brisbane LionsBrisbane
Report
Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Peter Lampley
Canberra City v St George-Budapest
21 September Canberra City 2–1St George-BudapestCanberra
Report
Stadium: Manuka Oval
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Dennis McDermott
Fitzroy United v Footscray JUST
21 September Fitzroy United 1–0Footscray JUSTMelbourne
Report Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Don Campbell
Mooroolbark v South Melbourne
22 September Mooroolbark 1–0South MelbourneMelbourne
Report Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Tony Boskovic

Quarter-finals

West Adelaide had a bye for the Quarter-finals.

Brisbane City v Western Suburbs
2 October Brisbane City 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Western SuburbsBrisbane
  • Johnston 5'
Report
Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: David Yelland
Fitzroy United v Mooroolbark
2 October Fitzroy United 3–0MooroolbarkMelbourne
Report Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Barry Wilkinson
Marconi-Fairfield v Canberra City
3 October Marconi-Fairfield 5–1Canberra CitySydney
Report Stadium: Sydney Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,190
Referee: Bill Jones

Semi-finals

Brisbane City v West Adelaide
5 October Brisbane City 3–0 (a.e.t.)West AdelaideBrisbane
  • Johnston 93'
  • Pimblett 102'
  • Kibbey 118'
Report Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 5,000
Fitzroy United v Marconi-Fairfield
6 October Fitzroy United2–3 Marconi-Fairfield Melbourne
Report
Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 5,000

Final

Brisbane City1–1 (a.e.t.)Marconi
  • Tokesi 60'
Report
Penalties
5–3
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Stewart Mellings

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Australia Branko Buljevic Fitzroy United 3
Australia Gary Cole Fitzroy United
Australia Peter Sharne Marconi
4 Australia Kevin Caldwell Brisbane City 2
Australia Ernie Campbell Marconi
Australia Ian Johnston Brisbane City
Australia Berti Mariani Marconi
Australia Warren Turnbull Western Suburbs

References

  1. ^ "(Australia) NSL Cup 1977 - Schedule".
  2. ^ "FFA Cup a new old tradition". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  3. ^ Stock, Greg. "1977 National Soccer League Cup Results". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  4. ^ "States may compete in national series". Soccer Action. 26 January 1977. p. 3.
  5. ^ Stock, Greg. "1977 National Soccer League Cup Results". OzFootball.