# 1978 NSL Cup

The 1978 NSL Cup was the second edition of the NSL Cup, which was the main national association football knockout cup competition in Australia. The competition was known as the Philips Cup under a sponsorship arrangement with Dutch company Philips.
Defending champions Brisbane City defeated Adelaide City 2–1 in the final to win their second and back-to-back NSL Cup title.

## Teams

The NSL Cup was a knockout competition with 32 teams taking part all trying to reach the Final in October 1978. The competition consisted of the 14 teams from the National Soccer League plus 18 teams from their respective top division state leagues.
| Round | Main date | Number of fixtures | Clubs remaining |
| First round | Wednesday 24 May 1978 | 16 | 32 → 16 |
| Second round | Wednesday 19 July 1978 | 8 | 16 → 8 |
| Quarter-finals | Sunday 24 September 1978 | 4 | 8 → 4 |
| Semi-finals | Sunday 1 October 1978 | 2 | 4 → 2 |
| Final | Sunday 24 September 1978 | 1 | 2 → 1 |

## Bracket

| Round of 32 | Round of 32 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Brisbane City | Brisbane City | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| St. George-Souths | St. George-Souths | 0 | Brisbane City (p) | Brisbane City (p) | 0 (5) | | | | | | | | | |
| Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 7 | Brisbane Lions | Brisbane Lions | 0 (4) | | | | | | | | | |
| Annerley | Annerley | 0 | | | | Brisbane City | Brisbane City | 3 | | | | | | |
| Southside Eagles | Southside Eagles | 1 | | | | Eastern Suburbs Hakoah | Eastern Suburbs Hakoah | 0 | | | | | | |
| Eastern Suburbs Hakoah | Eastern Suburbs Hakoah | 2 | Eastern Suburbs Hakoah | Eastern Suburbs Hakoah | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| Sydney Olympic | Sydney Olympic | 2 | Sydney Olympic | Sydney Olympic | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Auburn | Auburn | 0 | | | | | | | Brisbane City (a.e.t.) | Brisbane City (a.e.t.) | 2 | | | |
| Weston Bears | Weston Bears | 1 | | | | | | | Newcastle KB United | Newcastle KB United | 0 | | | |
| Newcastle KB United | Newcastle KB United | 2 | Newcastle KB United | Newcastle KB United | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Marconi | Marconi | 0 (3) | Sydney Croatia | Sydney Croatia | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Sydney Croatia (p) | Sydney Croatia (p) | 0 (4) | | | | Newcastle KB United | Newcastle KB United | 1 | | | | | | |
| Western Suburbs | Western Suburbs | 2 | | | | Western Suburbs | Western Suburbs | 0 | | | | | | |
| Sutherland | Sutherland | 0 | Western Suburbs | Western Suburbs | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| St. George | St. George | 2 | St. George | St. George | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| APIA Leichhardt | APIA Leichhardt | 1 | | | | | | | | | | Brisbane City | Brisbane City | 2 |
| Beograd Woodville | Beograd Woodville | 2 | | | | | | | | | | Adelaide City | Adelaide City | 1 |
| Eastern Districts Azzurri | Eastern Districts Azzurri | 1 | Beograd Woodville | Beograd Woodville | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| White Eagles | White Eagles | 0 | Essendon Croatia | Essendon Croatia | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Essendon Croatia | Essendon Croatia | 2 | | | | Essendon Croatia | Essendon Croatia | 0 | | | | | | |
| Adelaide City | Adelaide City | 5 | | | | Adelaide City | Adelaide City | 1 | | | | | | |
| Noarlunga United | Noarlunga United | 0 | Adelaide City | Adelaide City | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Ascot | Ascot | 1 | West Adelaide | West Adelaide | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| West Adelaide | West Adelaide | 4 | | | | | | | Adelaide City | Adelaide City | 3 | | | |
| George Cross | George Cross | 1 | | | | | | | Canberra City | Canberra City | 1 | | | |
| Juventus | Juventus | 0 | George Cross | George Cross | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Canberra City | Canberra City | 4 | Canberra City | Canberra City | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| West Woden Juventus | West Woden Juventus | 0 | | | | Canberra City (p) | Canberra City (p) | 1 (5) | | | | | | |
| Fitzroy United | Fitzroy United | 6 | | | | Fitzroy United | Fitzroy United | 1 (4) | | | | | | |
| Prahan Slavia | Prahan Slavia | 3 | Fitzroy United (a.e.t.) | Fitzroy United (a.e.t.) | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Footscray JUST | Footscray JUST | 1 | South Melbourne | South Melbourne | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| South Melbourne | South Melbourne | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Branko Culina | Essendon Croatia | 4 |
| 1 | Barry Kelso | Brisbane City | 4 |
| 3 | Andy Bozikas | Fitzroy United | 3 |
| 3 | Tony Henderson | Canberra City | 3 |