1987 NSL Cup final explained

1987 NSL Cup Final
Event:	1987 NSL Cup
Team1:	Sydney Croatia
Team1score:	2
Team2:	South Melbourne
Team2score:	0
Details:	on aggregate
Firstleg:	First leg
Team1score1:	1
Team2score1:	0
Date1:	14 October 1987
Stadium1:	St George Stadium
City1:	Sydney
Referee1:	Rob Davies
Attendance1:	3,845
Secondleg:	Second leg
Team1score2:	1
Team2score2:	0
Date2:	18 October 1987
Stadium2:	Olympic Park
City2:	Melbourne
Attendance2:	3,900
Previous:	1986
Next:	1988

The 1987 NSL Cup final was the 11th final of the NSL Cup. The final was contested in a two-legged home-and-away format between Sydney Croatia and South Melbourne. The first leg was hosted by Sydney Croatia at St George Stadium in Sydney on 14 October 1987, while the second leg was hosted by South Melbourne at Olympic Park in Melbourne on 18 October 1987.^[1] Sydney Croatia won 2–0 on aggregate to win their first NSL Cup title.^[2]

Route to the final

Sydney Croatia		Round^[3]	South Melbourne
Opponent	Score		Opponent	Score
APIA Leichhardt	2–1 (H)	First round	Bye
St George-Budapest	3–0 (H)	Quarter-finals	Preston Makedonia	2–0 (A)
Heidelberg United	1–1 (H)	Semi-finals	Marconi Fairfield	4–1 (H)
Note: In all results above, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

Sydney Croatia

Sydney Croatia started their 1987 NSL Cup campaign by winning against locals APIA Leichhardt 2–1 in the first round at home on. They defeated St George-Budapest 3–0 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, they won on penalties against Heidelberg United to progress to their first NSL Cup Final.

South Melbourne

South Melbourne had a bye in the first round of this NSL campaign until they won 2–0 against Preston Makedonia in the quarter-finals. The semi-final was won 4–1 against Marconi Fairfield to progress to the Final.

Matches

First leg

Details

width=25 ! width=25 GK 22 Greg Woodhouse DF 8 Wally Savor DF 4 Ray Vliestra DF 5 Vedran Rožić DF 3 Graham Jennings DF 12 Mark Jones DF 14 Ante Rumora MF 11 Zarko Odzakov MF 7 Robbie Slater FW 9 Graham Arnold FW 15 Manis Lamond Substitutes: MF 6 Shane Clinch Head coach: Vedran Rožić

width=25 ! width=25 GK 1 Peter Laumets DF 2 Bobby Russell DF 5 Steve Blair DF 12 Manny Anezakis DF 3 Ange Postecoglou DF 8 Richard Miranda MF 6 Paul Wade MF 4 Garry McDowall MF 7 Danny Crainie FW 9 Charlie Egan FW 10 Danny Wright Head coach: Brian Garvey

Second leg

Details

width=25 ! width=25 GK 1 Peter Laumets DF 2 Bobby Russell DF 5 Steve Blair DF 12 Manny Anezakis DF 3 Ange Postecoglou DF 8 Richard Miranda MF 6 Paul Wade MF 4 Garry McDowall MF 7 Danny Crainie FW 9 Charlie Egan FW 10 Danny Wright Substitutes: MF 14 Steve Tasios Head coach: Brian Garvey

width=25 ! width=25 GK 22 Greg Woodhouse DF 8 Wally Savor DF 4 Ray Vliestra DF 5 Vedran Rožić DF 3 Graham Jennings DF 12 Mark Jones DF 14 Ante Rumora MF 2 David Rezo MF 11 Zarko Odzakov MF 7 Robbie Slater FW 9 Graham Arnold Head coach: Vedran Rožić

Notes and References

1. Book: NATIONAL SOCCER CUP FINAL Souvenir Programme – SYDNEY CROATIA v SOUTH MELBOURNE. National Soccer League.
2. News: UNLUCKY SOUTH MELBOURNE. Australian Soccer Weekly. 8. 136. 21 October 1987. 6.
3. Web site: 1987 National Soccer League "Beach Fashions" Cup Results. Stock. Greg. 28 September 2022. OzFootball.net.