2003–04 National Soccer League
2003–04 National Soccer League | |
---|---|
League | National Soccer League |
Sport | Soccer |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Perth Glory (C) | 24 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 56 | 22 | +34 | 57 | Qualification to Finals series |
2 | Parramatta Power | 24 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 58 | 30 | +28 | 51 | |
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 United | 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 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored;
(C) Champion
Home and away season[]
Round 1[]
Wollongong Wolves | 0 – 1 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Report | Vrkic ![]() |
Parramatta Power | 0 – 0 | South Melbourne FC |
---|---|---|
Report |
Football Kingz | 1 – 2 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
Ngata ![]() |
Report | Masi ![]() Wheelhouse ![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 1 – 1 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Pelikan ![]() |
Report | Maloney ![]() |
Northern Spirit | 1 – 3 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
Hutchinson ![]() |
Report | Morley ![]() ![]() Rose ![]() |
Sydney Olympic | 0 – 0 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Round 2[]
Newcastle United | 2 – 1 | Northern Spirit |
---|---|---|
Wheelhouse ![]() |
Report | Macallister ![]() |
Brisbane Strikers | 1 – 1 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Report | ![]() |
Marconi Stallions | 2 – 1 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
Maloney ![]() |
![]() |
Sydney United | 2 – 1 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Langdon ![]() ![]() Ozbey ![]() |
Report | ![]() |
Adelaide United | 0 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
---|---|---|
Report | Elrich ![]() Milicic ![]() |
Round 3[]
Northern Spirit | 4 – 0 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Richter ![]() Ferguson ![]() Macallister ![]() Petrie ![]() |
Report |
Parramatta Power | 4 – 1 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Dodd ![]() Elrich ![]() |
Report | Martin ![]() |
Brisbane Strikers | 0 – 0 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Report |
Melbourne Knights | 3 – 4 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Vasilevski ![]() ![]() |
Report | Alagich ![]() Aloisi ![]() ![]() Veart ![]() |
Round 4[]
Football Kingz | 1 – 3 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Ngata ![]() |
Report | Despotovski ![]() Pondeljak ![]() Mori ![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 1 – 2 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
Pelikan ![]() |
Young ![]() ![]() |
Sydney Olympic | 1 – 0 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Baird ![]() |
Report |
Round 5[]
Adelaide United | 1 – 0 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
Veart ![]() |
Report |
Football Kingz | 1 – 2 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Ngata ![]() |
Report | Pelikan ![]() ![]() |
Sydney Olympic | 1 – 2 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Schirripa ![]() |
Webb ![]() Spiteri ![]() |
Sydney United | 0 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
---|---|---|
Report | Milicic ![]() |
South Melbourne | 4 – 1 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
Coveny ![]() ![]() |
Report | Owens ![]() |
Northern Spirit | 3 – 5 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
O'Sullivan ![]() Osman ![]() |
Report | Pondeljak ![]() Mori ![]() Despotovski ![]() ![]() |
Round 6[]
Newcastle United | 2 – 3 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Owens ![]() R. Griffiths ![]() |
Report | Veart ![]() Vidmar ![]() |
Marconi Stallions | 1 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Report | Buonavoglia ![]() Thompson ![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 0 – 1 | Northern Spirit |
---|---|---|
Macallister ![]() |
Sydney Olympic | 0 – 2 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Report | Mori ![]() |
Sydney United | 0 – 0 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
Report |
Wollongong Wolves | 1 – 2 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Hickey ![]() Ngata ![]() |
Round 7[]
Parramatta Power | 6 – 0 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Milicic ![]() Buonavoglia ![]() Colosimo ![]() |
Report |
Sydney Olympic | 0 – 2 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Report | Pelikan ![]() |
Adelaide United | 0 – 0 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Report |
South Melbourne | 2 – 0 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Boutsianis ![]() Coveny ![]() |
Report |
Round 8[]
Wollongong Wolves | 0 – 1 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Report | Cardozo ![]() |
Football Kingz | 0 – 2 | Northern Spirits |
---|---|---|
Report | Macallister ![]() Ferguson ![]() |
Parramatta Power | 4 – 0 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Kovacic ![]() Milicic ![]() Dodd ![]() |
Report |
Marconi Stallions | 0 – 0 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Perth Glory | 1 – 0 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
Despotovski ![]() |
Report |
Sydney United | 3 – 0 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
Collina ![]() ![]() |
Round 9[]
Newcastle United | 0 – 0 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Report |
Wollongong Wolves | 3 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
---|---|---|
![]() ![]() |
Report | Ceccoli ![]() |
Marconi Stallions | 1 – 0 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
Carle ![]() |
Report |
Sydney Olympic | 2 – 2 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Ishida ![]() Cardozo ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 0 – 5 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
Report | Panopoulos ![]() Trimboli ![]() Coveny ![]() Curcija ![]() |
Adelaide United | 1 – 4 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Kemp ![]() |
Report | Pondeljak ![]() Mori ![]() Despotovski ![]() |
Round 10[]
Newcastle United | 0 – 1 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Caravella ![]() |
Football Kingz | 3 – 1 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Tambouras ![]() Martin ![]() Midtsian ![]() |
Report | Carle ![]() |
Wollongong Wolves | 2 – 1 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Young ![]() Nwaogazi ![]() |
Report | Mori ![]() |
South Melbourne | 2 – 1 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Kovacevic ![]() |
Report | Veart ![]() |
Round 11[]
Adelaide United | 2 – 2 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
Valkanis ![]() Saric ![]() |
Report | Nwaogazi ![]() ![]() |
Newcastle United | 1 – 0 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Masi ![]() |
Report |
Parramatta Power | 3 – 0 | Northern Spirit |
---|---|---|
Milicic ![]() Elrich ![]() |
Report |
South Melbourne | 6 – 0 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Curcija ![]() Laurie ![]() Tunbridge ![]() |
Round 12[]
Wollongong Wolves | 1 – 1 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
Nwaogazi ![]() |
Report | Brain ![]() |
Football Kingz | 1 – 3 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Ngata ![]() |
Report | Pellegrino ![]() Smeltz ![]() Veart ![]() |
Sydney Olympic | 0 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
---|---|---|
Milicic ![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 1 – 1 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
![]() |
R. Griffiths ![]() |
Perth Glory | 2 – 0 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Mori ![]() Mrdja ![]() |
Report |
Round 13[]
Newcastle United | 2 – 0 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
R. Griffiths ![]() ![]() |
Report |
Adelaide United | 1 – 0 | Northern Spirit |
---|---|---|
Saric ![]() |
Report |
South Melbourne | 4 – 2 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Tunbridge ![]() Poutakidis ![]() Curcija ![]() Boutsianis ![]() |
Augerinos ![]() ![]() |
Sydney United | 3 – 1 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Babic ![]() ![]() Parisi ![]() |
Report | Vasilevski ![]() |
Round 14[]
Newcastle United | 2 – 0 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Johnson ![]() Deans ![]() |
Report |
Marconi Stallions | 0 – 1 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Report | ![]() |
Adelaide United | 1 – 1 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Thompson ![]() |
Report | Cardozo ![]() |
South Melbourne | 2 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
---|---|---|
Coveny ![]() |
Report | Rech ![]() |
Round 15[]
Football Kingz | 0 – 1 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Report | Haliti ![]() |
Wollongong Wolves | 3 – 3 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Young ![]() Nwaogazi ![]() |
Report | Carle ![]() Maloney ![]() Brosque ![]() |
Parramatta Power | 1 – 2 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Petrovski ![]() |
Report | Aloisi ![]() Veart ![]() |
Sydney Olympic | 1 – 1 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
![]() |
![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 0 – 2 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Report | Mrdja ![]() |
Northern Spirit | 1 – 1 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Report | Masi ![]() |
Round 16[]
Perth Glory | 6 – 1 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
Despotovski ![]() Byrnes ![]() ![]() Caceres ![]() Pondeljak ![]() Mrdja ![]() |
Report | Brownlie ![]() |
South Melbourne | 2 – 3 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
Boutsianis ![]() Coveny ![]() |
Report | ![]() Nwaogazi ![]() ![]() |
Sydney Olympic | 1 – 0 | Northern Spirit |
---|---|---|
Baird ![]() |
Report |
Newcastle United | 0 – 1 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Report | Maloney ![]() |
Adelaide United | 2 – 1 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Veart ![]() Terminello ![]() |
Report | Trajanovski ![]() |
Round 17[]
Parramatta Power | 4 – 0 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
Dodd ![]() Petrovski ![]() Milicic ![]() |
Brisbane Strikers | 1 – 0 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Perth Glory | 4 – 0 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Murphy ![]() Faria ![]() Mrdja ![]() |
Sydney United | 0 – 0 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Wollongong Wolves | 1 – 1 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Young ![]() |
Trajanovski ![]() |
Northern Spirit | 0 – 0 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Round 18[]
Newcastle United | 0 – 1 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
Crucija ![]() |
Parramatta Power | 5 – 1 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Milicic ![]() Pantelis ![]() Zorbas ![]() ![]() |
B. Šantalab ![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 1 – 0 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Marth ![]() |
Brisbane Strikers | 1 – 0 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Morley ![]() |
Perth Glory | 3 – 2 | Northern Spirit |
---|---|---|
Murphy ![]() Pondeljak ![]() Despotovski ![]() |
Richter ![]() Tomasevic ![]() |
Marconi Stallions | 1 – 0 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Carle ![]() |
Round 19[]
Perth Glory | 2 – 0 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Murphy ![]() |
Football Kingz | 1 – 1 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
Martin ![]() |
![]() |
Northern Spirit | 2 – 0 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Hutchinson ![]() Milligan ![]() |
Adelaide United | 0 – 0 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
South Melbourne | 1 – 0 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Coveny ![]() |
Parramatta Power | 2 – 2 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Milicic ![]() Rech ![]() |
Brosque ![]() Spiteri ![]() |
Round 20[]
Newcastle United | 1 – 0 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
Wheelhouse ![]() |
Wollongong Wolves | 4 – 1 | Northern Spirit |
---|---|---|
Hughes ![]() Young ![]() Nwaogazi ![]() |
Richter ![]() |
Perth Glory | 4 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
---|---|---|
Mrdja ![]() Despotovski ![]() Caceres ![]() |
Sekulovski ![]() |
Sydney United | 1 – 1 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Šantalab ![]() |
Alagich ![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 1 – 1 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Marth ![]() |
Caravella ![]() |
Marconi Stallions | 1 – 0 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
Maloney ![]() |
Round 21[]
Sydney Olympic | 5 – 2 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
Caravella ![]() Cardozo ![]() ![]() Goutzioulis ![]() |
Nwaogazi ![]() ![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 1 – 3 | Parramatta Power |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Rech ![]() |
South Melbourne | 0 – 0 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Brisbane Strikers | 2 – 0 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
McCloughan ![]() ![]() |
Adelaide United | 1 – 0 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Veart ![]() |
Northern Spirit | 1 – 0 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Richter ![]() |
Round 22[]
Perth Glory | 2 – 0 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Mori ![]() |
South Melbourne | 4 – 0 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Leijer ![]() Sarkies ![]() Curcija ![]() Tunbridge ![]() |
Parramatta Power | 4 – 3 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
Milicic ![]() Rech ![]() Petrovski ![]() Gumprecht ![]() |
van Blerk ![]() Nwaogazi ![]() ![]() |
Sydney United | 2 – 0 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
B. Šantalab ![]() ![]() |
Brisbane Strikers | 0 – 2 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Maloney ![]() Carle ![]() |
Round 23[]
Adelaide United | 2 – 0 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
Budin ![]() Aloisi ![]() |
Perth Glory | 2 – 0 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
Despotovski ![]() Mori ![]() |
Marconi Stallions | 2 – 1 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Gibson ![]() Carle ![]() |
Harries ![]() |
Sydney United | 0 – 0 | Northern Spirit |
---|---|---|
Sydney Olympic | 2 – 0 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
Cardozo ![]() |
Parramatta Power | 3 – 2 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
Milicic ![]() Pantelis ![]() |
Fitzsimmons ![]() Rose ![]() |
Round 24[]
Wollongong Wolves | 0 – 1 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Perth Glory | 2 – 0 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
Mori ![]() Caceres ![]() |
Football Kingz | 2 – 0 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
Hickey ![]() Ngata ![]() |
Marconi Stallions | 3 – 0 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Brosque ![]() ![]() Gibson ![]() |
Northern Spirit | 0 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
---|---|---|
Petrovski ![]() |
Melbourne Knights | 2 – 0 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
R. Vargas ![]() ![]() |
Round 25[]
Adelaide United | 1 – 0 | Football Kingz |
---|---|---|
Veart ![]() |
Newcastle United | 0 – 2 | Melbourne Knights |
---|---|---|
Pelikan ![]() |
Parramatta Power | 3 – 2 | Sydney Olympic |
---|---|---|
Rech ![]() Milicic ![]() Thompson ![]() |
Caravella ![]() P. Cardozo ![]() |
Brisbane Strikers | 0 – 1 | Wollongong Wolves |
---|---|---|
Nwaogazi ![]() |
South Melbourne | 1 – 2 | Northern Spirit |
---|---|---|
Coveny ![]() |
Kwasnik ![]() Richter ![]() |
Round 26[]
Perth Glory | 2 – 2 | Marconi Stallions |
---|---|---|
Mori ![]() Mrdja ![]() |
Spiteri ![]() |
Football Kingz | 4 – 3 | Brisbane Strikers |
---|---|---|
Hay ![]() Ngata ![]() Christie ![]() |
McKay ![]() Rose ![]() Fitzsimmons ![]() |
Sydney Olympic | 0 – 0 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
Melbourne Knights | 0 – 0 | Sydney United |
---|---|---|
Wollongong Wolves | 3 – 0 | Newcastle United |
---|---|---|
Nwaogazi ![]() Young ![]() ![]() |
Finals[]
Bracket[]
Elimination finals | Semi-finals | Preliminary Final | Grand Final | ||||||||||||||||||
2 | Parramatta Power | 4 | 2 | 6 | Parramatta Power | 0 | |||||||||||||||
1 | Perth Glory | 2 | 0 | 2 | Perth Glory (a.e.t.) | 1 | |||||||||||||||
3 | Adelaide United (a) | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | Perth Glory | 5 | ||||||||||||||
6 | Brisbane Strikers | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | Adelaide United | 0 | ||||||||||||||
3 | Adelaide United (a.e.t.) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | South Melbourne | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Marconi Stallions | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | South Melbourne | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Elimination Final 1 (3rd v 6th)[]
- Adelaide United progress on away goals rule (4–4 on aggregate)
Elimination Final 2 (4th v 5th)[]
Marconi Stallions | 0–0 | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
(Report) |
- South Melbourne progress 2–0 on aggregate
Major Semi Final (1st v 2nd)[]
Parramatta Power | 4–2 | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
Ceccoli ![]() Petrovski ![]() Zorbas ![]() Milicic ![]() |
(Report) | Despotovski ![]() Harnwell ![]() |
- Parramatta Power progress 6–2 on aggregate
Minor Semi Final[]
Adelaide United | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | South Melbourne |
---|---|---|
Aloisi ![]() Alagich ![]() |
(Report | Curcija ![]() |
Preliminary Final[]
Perth Glory | 5–0 | Adelaide United |
---|---|---|
Despotovski ![]() Mori ![]() Mrdja ![]() |
(Report) |
Grand Final[]
Parramatta Power | 0 – 1 (a.e.t.) | Perth Glory |
---|---|---|
(Report) | Mrdja ![]() |
|
|
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[]
- National Soccer League (Australia) seasons
- 2004 in Australian soccer
- 2003 in Australian soccer
- 2004 in Oceanian association football leagues
- 2003 in Oceanian association football leagues