1999 National Soccer League Grand Final Explained

1999 National Soccer League Grand Final
Event:1998–99 National Soccer League
Team1:South Melbourne
Team1score:3
Team2:Sydney United
Team2score:2
Stadium:Olympic Park Stadium
City:Melbourne, Australia
Man Of The Match1a:Goran Lozanovski
(Joe Marston Medal)
Referee:Simon Michallef
Attendance:15,194
Previous:1998
Next:2000

The 1999 National Soccer League Grand Final, also known as the 1999 Ericsson Cup Grand Final, was held on 30 May 1999 between South Melbourne and Sydney United at Olympic Park Stadium. South Melbourne gained home advantage as although Sydney United finished higher in the regular season, South Melbourne won the major semi-final against them two weeks prior. Mile Sterjovski scored first for United as they went up 1–0 at the half time break, however, a goal from Paul Trimboli and a brace from John Anastasiadis sealed South Melbourne's second consecutive championship and fourth overall. Goran Lozanovski won the Joe Marston Medal.[1] [2]

Background

See also: 1998–99 National Soccer League. Sydney United finished the season with the minor premiership through a 3–1 win over the Adelaide Sharks on the final day of the season. South Melbourne finished one point from first place.[3] [4]

Route to the final

Finals Bracket

Match

Details

width=25!width=25
GK 1 Michael Petkovic
MF 2 Steve Iosifidis
DF 3
DF 4 Nick Orlic
DF 5 Con Blatsis
MF 6 David Clarkson
MF 7 Steve Panopoulos
FW 8
FW 9 Paul Trimboli (c)
FW 10
MF 15
Substitutes:
GK 20 Chris Jones
FW 11
MF 16 George Goutzioulis
FW 17 Jim Tsekinis
DF 18 Robert Liparoti
Manager:
Ange Postecoglou

Joe Marston Medal
Goran Lozanovski (South Melbourne)
GK 30 Mike Gibson
DF 2 David Barrett
DF 4 Velimir Kupresak (c)
DF 5 Richard Plesa
DF 6 Joe Vrkic
MF7
FW 9 Mile Sterjovski
FW 10 Nathan Day
MF 11 Steve Berry
DF 17 Michael Santalab
MF 28 Peter Bennett
Substitutes:
GK 20 Barney Smith
DF 8
MF 15 Danny Townsend
FW 19
MF 25 Ante Moric
Manager:
David Mitchell[5]
Assistant referees


Fourth official

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

Post-match

The match served as a qualifier for the 1999 Oceania Club Championship.[6] South Melbourne qualified easily for the championship final, conceding just one goal in the group stage and defeating Tahitian club A.S. Vénus 3–0 in the semifinal. They qualified for the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship with a 5–0 win in the final. At the Club World Championship, South Melbourne finished fourth in their group, eighth overall, without recording a win and scoring one goal.

Notes and References

  1. News: Cockerill . Michael . 31 May 1999 . Sunk by a sub . en . The Sydney Morning Herald . 1 May 2020. subscription. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Cockerill . Ian. 31 May 1999 . Fairytales are reserved for Souths . en . The Sydney Morning Herald . 1 May 2020. subscription. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Gatt . Ray . 26 April 1999 . Pumas secure minor premiership National Soccer League . 24 . Sport. The Australian.
  4. News: Mangan . Patrick . 30 May 1999 . Premiership today, the world next? . 10 . The Sunday Age.
  5. News: Majid . Sham . 20 April 2013 . Grand final recollections: David Mitchell . Goal.com . DAZN Media . 2020-05-01.
  6. News: Warren . Johnny . 30 May 1999 . World champs is golden goal . en . The Sydney Morning Herald . 1 May 2020. Newspapers.com. subscription.