2003–04 National Soccer League
| NSL 2003-04 | |
|---|---|
| League | National Soccer League |
| Sport | Association football |
| Duration | 2003-2004 |
| Number of teams | 13 |
| NSL season | |
| Champions | Perth Glory |
| Top scorer | Ante Milicic (20) |
The 2003–04 National Soccer League season, was the 28th and final season of the National Soccer League in Australia. Perth Glory were crowned both premiers and champions after winning both the league and grand final.
Overview
The season was remembered as the end of an era for the national league, following the announcement in 2003 that the national competition would be wholly scrapped in response to the Crawford Report into soccer in Australia. The end of the NSL led to the formation of the A-League, a new national competition that began in 2005.
The season was played as a single league, home-and-away format with top six teams qualifying for a finals series. Adelaide City withdrew from the competition shortly before the start of the season, leading to the hasty formation of Adelaide United to take their place.
At the beginning of the season, it became obvious that the title would be fought between Perth Glory and Parramatta Power. The Champions Glory lost several of their title-winning squad, most notably their dominant midfield, most of whom to the Power. Parramatta, backed by the Leagues Club, bought big for the last year including notably Ante Milicic and Sasho Petrovski, looking to simply buy the title.
This tactic seemed to be working for a large part of the season, as Power held off major challengers Perth, including a memorable 6-0 hiding, Glory's worst-ever loss. However, a turning point came and Perth began to close the gap both in results and performance terms, and won the Premiership by 6 points in the end. Neither of these sides were ever really matched by other sides during the season. Perhaps the surprise of the season was Adelaide United, who surprised all by making the finals and nearly breaking Perth's all-time average season record attendance in the process, with the biggest crowds of the season. This was most notable as the club was thrown together just a few weeks before the season to take the place of former heavyweight Adelaide City.
In the finals series, notably Perth were comprehensively beaten in both legs of the major semi-final, while Adelaide progressed to the minor semi-final in their first ever season, only to be thrashed by Glory, just highlighting the gap between the top two sides and the rest of the league.
The last ever NSL Grand Final was held at Parramatta Stadium, due to Power winning the major semi-final. The Final was attended by a very measly crowd of just over 9,000, and played in thick rain from kick-off. Power's slick passing game was somewhat hurt by the poor conditions, and the game turned into something of a scrap. No goals were scored in 90 minutes of football, so the game went to extra-time where young Glory striker Nik Mrdja slotted to give Glory their fifth National League title and second NSL Championship, while Power finished the season with nothing to show for their quality and dominance.
Regular season
League table
| Pos |
Team | Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perth Glory (C) | 24 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 56 | 22 | +34 | 57 | 2003–04 National Soccer League Champions |
| 2 | Parramatta Power | 24 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 58 | 30 | +28 | 51 | 2004 National Soccer League Elimination Finals |
| 3 | Adelaide United | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 25 | +3 | 40 | |
| 4 | Marconi Stallions | 24 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 25 | +4 | 38 | |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 39 | 21 | +18 | 37 | |
| 6 | Brisbane Strikers | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 28 | 33 | −5 | 32 | |
| 7 | Northern Spirit | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 31 | 33 | −2 | 30 | |
| 8 | Sydney Olympic | 24 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 26 | 31 | −5 | 29 | |
| 9 | Wollongong Wolves | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 34 | 41 | −7 | 29 | |
| 10 | Sydney United | 24 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 18 | 25 | −7 | 29 | |
| 11 | Newcastle Jets | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 33 | −15 | 24 | |
| 12 | Melbourne Knights | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 41 | −20 | 23 | |
| 13 | Football Kingz | 24 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 25 | 51 | −26 | 15 |
Updated to games played on 29 February 2004
Source: ozfootball.net
Rules for classification:
1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Home and away season
Round 1
21 September 2003 |
| Northern Spirit | 1 – 3 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
Hutchinson  53' |
Report | Morley 15', 45' Rose 62' |
Round 2
26 September 2003 |
| Newcastle United | 2 – 1 | Northern Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelhouse 2' (Pen), 77' (Pen) |
Report | Macallister 28' |
28 September 2003 |
| Sydney United | 2 – 1 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Langdon 58', Zmire 62', Ozbey  85' |
Report | Cunico 73' (OG) |
Round 3
3 October 2003 |
| Wollongong Wolves | 0 – 4 | South Melbourne FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Coveny 16', 53', Curcija 78',Poutakidis 92' |
4 October 2003 |
| Northern Spirit | 4 – 0 | Sydney Olympic |
|---|---|---|
| Richter 47', Ferguson 57',Macallister 68',Petrie 81' |
Report |
4 October 2003 |
| Parramatta Power | 4 – 1 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Dodd 33', 36', 73', Elrich 94' |
Report | Martin 57' |
4 October 2003 |
| Marconi Stallions | 1 – 1 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Renaud 72', Costanzo 92' |
Report | Middleby 54', Thomas 72' |
8 February 2004 |
| Melbourne Knights | 3 – 4 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Vasilevski 53', Marinos 57', 90' |
Report | Alagich 45', Aloisi 62',Brooks 65',Veart 83' |
Round 4
12 October 2003 |
| Football Kingz | 1 – 3 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Ngata 64' |
Report | Despotovski 48', Pondeljak 57',Mori 67' |
Round 5
19 October 2003 |
| South Melbourne | 4 – 1 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Coveny 24' (pen.), 39', 76', Perosh 56' (o.g.) |
Report | Owens 30' |
19 October 2003 |
| Northern Spirit | 3 – 5 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| O'Sullivan 6', 34', Osman 38' |
Report | Pondeljak 11', Mori 12',Despotovski 14',Hassell 43', 48' |
Round 6
24 October 2003 |
| Newcastle United | 2 – 3 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Owens 16', R. Griffiths 61' |
Report | Veart 64' (pen.), 78', Vidmar 73' |
25 October 2003 |
| Marconi Stallions | 1 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Anabalon 46' |
Report | Buonavoglia 33', Thompson 76' |
Round 7
1 November 2003 |
| Brisbane Strikers | 2 – 1 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Morley 36', Brownlie 45' |
Report | Tsekenis 90' |
2 November 2003 |
| Parramatta Power | 6 – 0 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic 8', 37', 44', Buonavoglia 29', 49',Colosimo 90' |
Report |
Round 8
8 November 2003 |
| Parramatta Power | 4 – 0 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Kovacic 37' (o.g.), Milicic 54', 62',Dodd 78' |
Report |
Round 9
14 November 2003 |
| Wollongong Wolves | 3 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Arrarte 29', Hawrysiuk 41', 54' |
Report | Ceccoli 33' |
16 November 2003 |
| Sydney Olympic | 2 – 2 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Ishida 10', Cardozo 36' |
Rowley 3', Souris 45' (o.g.) |
16 November 2003 |
| Melbourne Knights | 0 – 5 | South Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Panopoulos 14', Trimboli 22', 34',Coveny 39',Curcija 89' |
16 November 2003 |
| Adelaide United | 1 – 4 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Kemp 19' |
Report | Pondeljak 15', 92', Mori 16',Despotovski 49' |
Round 10
22 November 2003 |
| Brisbane Strikers | 4 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Moon 34', Rose 71', 86',Morley 90' |
Report | Milicic 11', Rech 58' |
23 November 2003 |
| Football Kingz | 3 – 1 | Marconi Stallions |
|---|---|---|
| Tambouras 28', Martin 65',Midtsian 78' |
Report | Carle 86' (pen.) |
Round 11
28 November 2003 |
| Adelaide United | 2 – 2 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Valkanis 48', Saric 81' |
Report | Nwaogazi 20', Blake 90' |
30 November 2003 |
| South Melbourne | 6 – 0 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Curcija 3', 57', 72', 85', Laurie 34',Tunbridge 90' |
Round 12
6 December 2003 |
| Football Kingz | 1 – 3 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Ngata 80' |
Report | Pellegrino 50', Smeltz 76',Veart 86' |
7 December 2003 |
| Northern Spirit | 3 – 1 | South Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Petrie 45', 56', Fisher 88' |
Report | Curcija 54' |
Round 13
10 December 2003 |
| South Melbourne | 4 – 2 | Sydney Olympic |
|---|---|---|
| Tunbridge 7', Poutakidis 25',Curcija 32',Boutsianis 78' |
Augerinos 36', Bakis 62' |
10 December 2003 |
| Sydney United | 3 – 1 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Babic 47', Cunico 56',Parisi 66' |
Report | Vasilevski 83' |
Round 14
13 December 2003 |
| Brisbane Strikers | 3 – 1 | Northern Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Morley 56', Brownlie 82',Pilic 87' |
Report | Kwasnik 46' |
14 December 2003 |
| South Melbourne | 2 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Coveny 34' (pen.), 62' (pen.) |
Report | Rech 15' |
Round 15
19 December 2003 |
| Wollongong Wolves | 3 – 3 | Marconi Stallions |
|---|---|---|
| Young 2', 68', Nwaogazi 81' |
Report | Carle 45', Maloney 52',Brosque 77' |
Round 16
27 December 2003 |
| Perth Glory | 6 – 1 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
| Despotovski 26', Byrnes 45',Hassell 55',Caceres 74',Pondeljak 76',Mrdja 84' |
Report | Brownlie 55' (pen.) |
27 December 2003 |
| South Melbourne | 2 – 3 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Boutsianis 67', Coveny 81' |
Report | Arrarte 13', Nwaogazi 76',Balabanel 90' |
28 December 2003 |
| Adelaide United | 2 – 1 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Veart 15', Terminello 31' |
Report | Trajanovski 4' |
Round 17
Round 18
7 January 2004 |
| Parramatta Power | 5 – 1 | Sydney United |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic 8', Pantelis 28', 33',Zorbas 40',Doumanis 92' (o.g.) |
B. Šantalab 67' |
21 January 2004 |
| Perth Glory | 3 – 2 | Northern Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Murphy 9', Pondeljak 42',Despotovski 85' |
Richter 25', Tomasevic 92' |
Round 19
4 February 2004 |
| Parramatta Power | 2 – 2 | Marconi Stallions |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic 4', Rech 76' |
Brosque 46', Spiteri 81' |
Round 20
16 January 2004 |
| Wollongong Wolves | 4 – 1 | Northern Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Hughes 35', Young 38', 65',Nwaogazi 64' |
Richter 84' |
17 January 2004 |
| Perth Glory | 4 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Mrdja 18', 52', Despotovski 27' (pen.),Caceres 90' |
Sekulovski 74' |
Round 21
21 January 2004 |
| Sydney Olympic | 5 – 2 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Caravella 44', Cardozo 57', 92',Nikas 63',Goutzioulis 89' |
Nwaogazi 16', Majurovski 75' |
Round 22
31 January 2004 |
| South Melbourne | 4 – 0 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Leijer 23' (o.g.), Sarkies 41',Curcija 52',Tunbridge 90' |
31 January 2004 |
| Football Kingz | 2 – 4 | Sydney Olympic |
|---|---|---|
| Hickey 51', Rowley 94' |
Cardozo 8', Juric 28',Bojić 58',Ishida 63' |
31 January 2004 |
| Parramatta Power | 4 – 3 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic 14', Rech 40',Petrovski 49',Gumprecht 63' |
van Blerk 3', Nwaogazi 23',Sabljak 42' |
Round 23
9 February 2004 |
| Parramatta Power | 3 – 2 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic 12', 37', Pantelis 47' |
Fitzsimmons 56', Rose 81' |
Round 24
Round 25
20 February 2004 |
| Parramatta Power | 3 – 2 | Sydney Olympic |
|---|---|---|
| Rech 4', Milicic 34',Thompson 82' |
Caravella 3', P. Cardozo 43' |
22 February 2004 |
| Sydney United | 2 – 4 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Šantalab 69', Heffernan 78' |
Mrdja 28', 38', 92', Hassell 70' |
Round 26
29 February 2004 |
| Football Kingz | 4 – 3 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
| Hay 42', Ngata 45' (pen.), 81' (pen.),Christie 76' |
McKay 7', Rose 54',Fitzsimmons 57' |
Finals
Elimination Final 1 (3rd v 6th)
2nd Leg 13 March 2004 |
| Brisbane Strikers | 4–1 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Moon 45' Rose 58'Brain 82'Grierson 87' |
(Report) | Veart 65' |
- Adelaide United progress on away goals rule (4-4 on aggregate)
Elimination Final 2 (4th v 5th)
- South Melbourne progress 2-0 on aggregate
Major Semi Final (1st v 2nd)
1st Leg 13 March 2004 |
| Parramatta Power | 4–2 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Ceccoli 9' Petrovski 41'Zorbas 45'Milicic 75' |
(Report) | Despotovski 46' Harnwell 56' |
- Parramatta Power progress 6-2 on aggregate
Minor Semi Final
20 March 2004 |
| Adelaide United | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | South Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Aloisi 71' Alagich  105' (pen.) |
(Report | Curcija 12' |
Preliminary Final
Grand Final
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Individual awards
- Johnny Warren Medal (Player of the Year): Ante Milicic (Parramatta Power)
- U-21 Player of the Year: Alex Brosque (Marconi Stallions)
- Top Scorer(s): Ante Milicic (Parramatta Power – 20 goals)
References
External links
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