# 2004 National Soccer League Grand Final

The 2004 National Soccer League Grand Final was held on 4 April 2004 between Parramatta Power and Perth Glory at Parramatta Stadium. Parramatta Power had gained home-ground advantage by beating Perth Glory in the major semi final, while Perth earned their place with a win over Adelaide United in the preliminary final. Perth won the match 1–0, with Nik Mrdja scoring a golden goal in extra time.

## Background

The Australian Soccer Association (ASA) had decided that this would be the last National Soccer League season ahead of the launch of the provisionally-named Australian Premier League (APL) in 2005.

## Route to the final

The two teams were the clear standouts with Perth finishing the season first and Parramatta six points behind. As the top two teams, they earned the right to advance to the second week of the finals series. In the major semi-final, held over two legs at Parramatta Stadium and Perth Oval, Parramatta defeated Perth 6–2 on aggregate to advance to the grand final. Perth defeated Adelaide United in the preliminary final 5–0 at Subiaco Oval to earn the right to face the Power again. After initially suggesting that they might relinquish home-ground advantage to the Glory, the Power eventually decided to host the grand final at Parramatta.

### League Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | 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 | Qualification to Finals series |
| 3 | Adelaide United | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 25 | +3 | 40 | Qualification to Finals series |
| 4 | Marconi Stallions | 24 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 25 | +4 | 38 | Qualification to Finals series |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 39 | 21 | +18 | 37 | Qualification to Finals series |
| 6 | Brisbane Strikers | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 28 | 33 | −5 | 32 | Qualification to Finals series |
| 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 | |

### Finals Bracket

| Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Major/Minor Semifinal | Major/Minor Semifinal | Major/Minor Semifinal | Major/Minor Semifinal | Major/Minor Semifinal | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| | | | | | 2 | Parramatta Power | 4 | 2 | 6 | | | | Parramatta Power | 0 |
| | | | | | 1 | Perth Glory | 1 | 0 | 2 | | | | Perth Glory (a.e.t.) | Perth Glory (a.e.t.) | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Perth Glory | 5 | | | |
| 3 | Adelaide United (a) | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | 1 | Perth Glory | 5 | | | |
| 3 | Adelaide United (a) | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | 3 | Adelaide United | 0 | | | |
| 6 | Brisbane Strikers | 0 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | 3 | Adelaide United | 0 | | | |
| 6 | Brisbane Strikers | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | Adelaide United (a.e.t.) | Adelaide United (a.e.t.) | Adelaide United (a.e.t.) | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | South Melbourne | South Melbourne | South Melbourne | 1 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Marconi Stallions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | South Melbourne | South Melbourne | South Melbourne | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Match
### Summary

The match took place in heavy rain which led to a smaller than expected crowd and affected the pitch.
Perth had the first real chance on goal in the 14th minute with Damian Mori having a shot from within the six-yard box saved by Clint Bolton, the Power goalkeeper. A Peter Zorbas cross after 23 minutes was spilt by Perth goalkeeper Jason Petkovic, however Power forward Ante Milicic was unable to capitalise. A promising Glory attack was thwarted in the 29th minute with a ball in the penalty area stopping in the mud near the line.
With conditions improving in the second half, Power midfielder Ahmad Elrich put in a cross to Milicic who shot wide. Shortly after, Mori again missed from just outside the six-yard box with only the keeper between him and the goal. In the 74th minute, Power forward Sasho Petrovski shot the ball wide after doing to move past his opponent.
With regulation time expiring, the teams began extra time with the Golden goal rule in effect. Mori missed a clear chance to win the grand final five minutes into extra time after Peter Zorbas slipped while trying to clear the ball from the penalty area.
Nik Mrdja, who had been an 82nd minute substitute for striker Bobby Despotovski, ended the match eight minutes into the first period of extra time with a low shot past Power goalkeeper Bolton.

### Details

| Parramatta Power | Perth Glory |
| GK | 1 | Clint Bolton |
| DF | 3 | Alvin Ceccoli (c) |
| DF | 4 | Simon Colosimo |
| DF | 5 | Michael Beauchamp |
| FW | 7 | Travis Dodd |
| MF | 8 | Andre Gumprecht | 86' | |
| FW | 9 | Ante Milicic | | 68' |
| DF | 13 | Paul O'Grady |
| FW | 14 | Sasho Petrovski |
| FW | 21 | Ahmad Elrich |
| MF | 22 | Peter Zorbas | | 97' |
| Substitutes: ||
| GK | 20 | Daniel Beltrame |
| MF | 6 | Matt Thompson | | 97' |
| MF | 10 | Fernando Rech | | 68' |
| MF | 11 | Lucas Pantelis |
| DF | 16 | Jacek Sobczyk |
| Manager: ||
| Nick Theodorakopoulos Joe Marston Medal: Ahmad Elrich (Parramatta Power) ||
| GK | 1 | Jason Petkovic |
| DF | 3 | Matthew Bingley |
| DF | 5 | Shaun Murphy (c) |
| FW | 10 | Bobby Despotovski | | 82' |
| MF | 11 | Jade North |
| DF | 12 | Mark Byrnes | 62' | |
| MF | 15 | Tom Pondeljak |
| FW | 16 | Damian Mori |
| DF | 19 | Jamie Harnwell |
| FW | 21 | Adrian Caceres |
| DF | 24 | Jamie Coyne | | 95' |
| Substitutes: ||
| GK | 20 | Vince Matassa |
| MF | 4 | Bradley Hassell | | 95' |
| MF | 6 | Wayne Srhoj |
| MF | 8 | Anthony Danze |
| FW | 9 | Nik Mrdja | | 82' |
| Manager: ||
| Mich d'Avray ||
| Assistant referees: Fourth official: | Match rules 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. |

## Post match

Power midfielder Ahmad Elrich was presented the Joe Marston Medal for best player of the grand final by Joe Marston.