| 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) Champions
Home and away season
Round 1
| Wollongong Wolves | 0 – 1 | Sydney United |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Vrkic |
| 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 |
Round 2
| Newcastle United | 2 – 1 | Northern Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelhouse |
Report | Macallister |
| Brisbane Strikers | 1 – 1 | Sydney Olympic |
|---|---|---|
| Pilic |
Report | Bakis |
| Marconi Stallions | 2 – 1 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Maloney |
Majurovski |
| Sydney United | 2 – 1 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Langdon Zmire Ozbey |
Report | Cunico |
| Perth Glory | 3 – 0 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Mori Pondeljak Caceres |
Report |
| Adelaide United | 0 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Elrich Milicic |
Round 3
| Wollongong Wolves | 0 – 4 | South Melbourne FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Coveny Curcija Poutakidis |
| Northern Spirit | 4 – 0 | Sydney Olympic |
|---|---|---|
| Richter Ferguson Macallister Petrie |
Report |
| Parramatta Power | 4 – 1 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Dodd Elrich |
Report | Martin |
| Marconi Stallions | 1 – 1 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Renaud Costanzo |
Report | Middleby Thomas |
| Melbourne Knights | 3 – 4 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Vasilevski Marinos |
Report | Alagich Aloisi Brooks Veart |
Round 4
| Newcastle United | 1 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Ceccoli |
Report | Dodd |
| Football Kingz | 1 – 3 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Ngata |
Report | Despotovski Pondeljak Mori |
| Melbourne Knights | 1 – 2 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Pelikan |
Young Hawrysiuk |
| Sydney Olympic | 1 – 0 | Sydney United |
|---|---|---|
| Baird |
Report |
| Marconi Stallions | 2 – 1 | Northern Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Harris Spiteri |
Report | Petrie |
Round 5
| Adelaide United | 1 – 0 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
| Veart |
Report |
| Football Kingz | 1 – 2 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Ngata |
Report | Pelikan Oksuz |
| Sydney Olympic | 1 – 2 | Marconi Stallions |
|---|---|---|
| Schirripa |
Webb Spiteri |
| Sydney United | 0 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Milicic |
| South Melbourne | 4 – 1 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Coveny Perosh |
Report | Owens |
| Northern Spirit | 3 – 5 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| O'Sullivan Osman |
Report | Pondeljak Mori Despotovski Hassell |
Round 6
| Newcastle United | 2 – 3 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Owens R. Griffiths |
Report | Veart Vidmar |
| Marconi Stallions | 1 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Anabalon |
Report | Buonavoglia Thompson |
| Sydney Olympic | 0 – 2 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Mori |
| Wollongong Wolves | 1 – 2 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Hawrysiuk |
Hickey Ngata |
Round 7
| Brisbane Strikers | 2 – 1 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Morley Brownlie |
Report | Tsekenis |
| Parramatta Power | 6 – 0 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic Buonavoglia Colosimo |
Report |
| Sydney Olympic | 0 – 2 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Pelikan |
| Northern Spirit | 3 – 0 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Petrie |
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 |
| Perth Glory | 1 – 0 | South Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Despotovski |
Report |
| Sydney United | 3 – 0 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
| Collina Doumanis |
Round 9
| Wollongong Wolves | 3 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Arrarte Hawrysiuk |
Report | Ceccoli |
| Sydney Olympic | 2 – 2 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Ishida Cardozo |
Rowley Souris |
| 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 |
| Brisbane Strikers | 4 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Moon Rose Morley |
Report | Milicic Rech |
| 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 Blake |
| Newcastle United | 1 – 0 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Masi |
Report |
| Parramatta Power | 3 – 0 | Northern Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic Elrich |
Report |
| Brisbane Strikers | 1 – 0 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Moon |
Report |
| South Melbourne | 6 – 0 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Curcija Laurie Tunbridge |
| Sydney United | 1 – 1 | Marconi Stallions |
|---|---|---|
| Collina |
Report | Spiteri |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Razov |
R. Griffiths |
| Northern Spirit | 3 – 1 | South Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Petrie Fisher |
Report | Curcija |
| Perth Glory | 2 – 0 | Sydney United |
|---|---|---|
| Mori Mrdja |
Report |
Round 13
| Newcastle United | 2 – 0 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| R. Griffiths Libbesson |
Report |
| Brisbane Strikers | 1 – 1 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| McLaren |
Report | Rowley |
| Marconi Stallions | 0 – 2 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Mori Despotovski |
| South Melbourne | 4 – 2 | Sydney Olympic |
|---|---|---|
| Tunbridge Poutakidis Curcija Boutsianis |
Augerinos Bakis |
| Sydney United | 3 – 1 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Babic Cunico Parisi |
Report | Vasilevski |
Round 14
| Newcastle United | 2 – 0 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson Deans |
Report |
| Brisbane Strikers | 3 – 1 | Northern Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Morley Brownlie Pilic |
Report | Kwasnik |
| Marconi Stallions | 0 – 1 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Marinos |
| Sydney United | 0 – 1 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Nwaogazi |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bakis |
Pilic |
| Melbourne Knights | 0 – 2 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Mrdja |
| Northern Spirit | 1 – 1 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas |
Report | Masi |
Round 16
| Perth Glory | 6 – 1 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
| Despotovski Byrnes Hassell Caceres Pondeljak Mrdja |
Report | Brownlie |
| South Melbourne | 2 – 3 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Boutsianis Coveny |
Report | Arrarte Nwaogazi Balabanel |
| Sydney Olympic | 1 – 0 | Northern Spirit |
|---|---|---|
| Baird |
Report |
| Football Kingz | 1 – 2 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Schjerven |
Report | Gumprecht Rech |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Grierson |
| Perth Glory | 4 – 0 | Football Kingz |
|---|---|---|
| Murphy Faria Mrdja |
| Wollongong Wolves | 1 – 1 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Young |
Trajanovski |
Round 18
| Parramatta Power | 5 – 1 | Sydney United |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic Pantelis Zorbas Doumanis |
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 |
Dragas |
| Northern Spirit | 2 – 0 | Melbourne Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson Milligan |
| South Melbourne | 1 – 0 | Sydney United |
|---|---|---|
| Coveny |
| Parramatta Power | 2 – 2 | Marconi Stallions |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic Rech |
Brosque Spiteri |
Round 20
| 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 Nikas Goutzioulis |
Nwaogazi Majurovski |
| Melbourne Knights | 1 – 3 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Oksuz |
Rech |
| Brisbane Strikers | 2 – 0 | Sydney United |
|---|---|---|
| McCloughan Pilic |
| 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 |
| Football Kingz | 2 – 4 | Sydney Olympic |
|---|---|---|
| Hickey Rowley |
Cardozo Juric Bojić Ishida |
| Parramatta Power | 4 – 3 | Wollongong Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic Rech Petrovski Gumprecht |
van Blerk Nwaogazi Sabljak |
| Sydney United | 2 – 0 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| B. Šantalab Austin |
| 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 Olympic | 2 – 0 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Cardozo |
| Parramatta Power | 3 – 2 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
| Milicic Pantelis |
Fitzsimmons Rose |
Round 24
| Wollongong Wolves | 0 – 1 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Brooks |
| Perth Glory | 2 – 0 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Mori Caceres |
| Football Kingz | 2 – 0 | South Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Hickey Ngata |
| Marconi Stallions | 3 – 0 | Sydney United |
|---|---|---|
| Brosque Harris Gibson |
| Northern Spirit | 0 – 1 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| Petrovski |
| Melbourne Knights | 2 – 0 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
| R. Vargas Oksuz |
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 |
| Sydney United | 2 – 4 | Perth Glory |
|---|---|---|
| Šantalab Heffernan |
Mrdja Hassell |
| 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 |
| Northern Spirit | 2 – 1 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Kwasnik |
Vidmar |
| Wollongong Wolves | 3 – 0 | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Nwaogazi Young Sabljak |
Finals
Bracket
| Elimination Finals | Major/Minor semi-finals | Preliminary Final | Grand Final | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 April 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Parramatta Power | 4 | 2 | 6 | Parramatta Power | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Perth Glory | 2 | 0 | 2 | Perth Glory (a.e.t.) | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Perth Glory | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Adelaide United (a) | 3 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Adelaide United | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Brisbane Strikers | 0 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 3–0 | Brisbane Strikers |
|---|---|---|
| Veart Agius Brooks |
(Report) |
| Brisbane Strikers | 4–1 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Moon Rose Brain Grierson |
(Report) | Veart |
- Adelaide United progress on away goals rule (4–4 on aggregate)
Elimination Final 2 (4th v 5th)
| South Melbourne | 2–0 | Marconi Stallions |
|---|---|---|
| Curcija |
(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 |
| Perth Glory | 0–2 | Parramatta Power |
|---|---|---|
| (Report | Elrich Petrovski |
- 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)