1981 NSL Cup

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox football tournament season | title = NSL Cup | year = 1981 | other_titles = National Soccer League Cup | image = | image_size = | caption = | country = Australia | dates = {{nowrap|21 March – 20 September 1981}} | num_teams = 36 | winners = Brisbane Lions | count = 1 | second = Heidelberg United | matches = 35 | goals = 114 | attendance = {{#expr: + 815 + 3025 + 1310 + 2000 + 2000 + 1400 + 3500 + 3500 + 6300 + 6300 + 2000 + 2000 + 4300 + 300 + 1000 + 6000 + 6000 + 6328 + 6328 + 5765 + 600 + 2000 + 1800 + 3800 + 6200 + 3200 + 6132}} | scoring_leader = | award = | prev_season = 1980 | next_season = 1982 }}

The '''1981 NSL Cup''' was the fifth edition of the NSL Cup, which was the main national association football knockout cup competition in Australia.

Marconi Fairfield were the defending champions, having defeated Heidelberg United to win their first title in the previous year's final, but they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Brisbane Lions.

Brisbane Lions defeated West Adelaide 3–1 in the final to win their first NSL Cup title.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dream start leads Lions to the Cup|newspaper=Soccer Action|date=23 September 1981|page=2}}</ref>

==Teams== The NSL Cup was a knockout competition with 36 teams taking part all trying to reach the Final in September 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html|title=1981 National Soccer League Cup Results|last=Stock|first=Greg|work=OzFootball}}</ref> The competition consisted of the 16 teams from the National Soccer League plus 20 teams from their respective top division state leagues.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !scope="col" style="width:150px"| Round !scope="col" style="width:200px"| Main date !scope="col" style="width:75px" | Number of fixtures !scope="col" style="width:75px" | Clubs remaining |- | First round || Sunday 22 March 1981 || 16 || 36 → 20 |- | Second round || Wednesday 6 May 1981 || 10 || 20 → 10 |- | Third round || Tuesday 16 June 1981 || 2 || 10 → 8 |- | Quarter-finals || Wednesday 17 June 1981 || 4 || 8 → 4 |- | Semi-finals || Wednesday 5 August 1981 || 2 || 4 → 2 |- | Final || Sunday 20 September 1981 || 1 || 2 → 1 |}

==First round== {{football box collapsible | date = 8 February 1981 | time = | team1 = Brisbane City (1) | score = 1–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round4 | team2 = '''Mount Gravatt (2)''' | goals1 = * Wilkinson {{goal|38}} | goals2 = | stadium = Perry Park | location = Brisbane | attendance = | referee = }} {{football box collapsible | date = 8 February 1981 | time = | team1 = Adelaide City (1) | score = 4–2 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round8 | team2 = '''Adelaide Croatia (2)''' | goals1 = * Mitchell {{goal|17}} * Marocchi {{goal|19}} * B. Nyskohus {{goal|76}} * Northcote {{goal|80}} | goals2 = * Williams {{goal|60}} * Caggiano {{goal|64}} | stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium | location = Adelaide | attendance = | referee = }} {{football box collapsible | date = 4 March 1981 | time = | team1 = St Kilda Hakoah (2) | score = 3–2 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round6 | team2 = '''Brunswick United Juventus (2)''' | goals1 = * Dosen {{goal|?}} * French {{goal|?}} * Fantoma {{goal|84|o.g.}} | goals2 = * Ristovski {{goal|?}} * Incantalupo {{goal|?}} | stadium = Olympic Park | location = Melbourne | attendance = 3,500 | referee = Dennis Voutsinas }} {{football box collapsible | date = 4 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Preston Makedonia (1) | score = 3–1 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round6 | team2 = '''Footscray JUST (1)''' | goals1 = * Ollerton {{goal|73||85|pen.}} * Brown {{goal|81}} | goals2 = * Cozzella {{goal|68}} | stadium = Olympic Park | location = Melbourne | attendance = 3,500 | referee = Chris Bambridge }} {{football box collapsible | date = 11 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Essendon Croatia (2) | score = 3–1 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round6 | team2 = '''Green Gully Ajax (2)''' | goals1 = * Gilder {{goal|47||?}} * Mitten {{goal|79}} | goals2 = * MacLeod {{goal|48|pen.}} | stadium = Olympic Park | location = Melbourne | attendance = 6,300 | referee = Jim Fearn }} {{football box collapsible | date = 11 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Heidelberg United (1) | score = 2–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round6 | team2 = '''South Melbourne (1)''' | goals1 = * Bozikas {{goal|52}} * Selemidis {{goal|71}} | goals2 = | stadium = Olympic Park | location = Melbourne | attendance = 6,300 | referee = Dennis Voutsinas }} {{football box collapsible | date = 11 March 1981 | time = | team1 = West Adelaide (1) | score = 3–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round8 | team2 = '''Para Hills (2)''' | goals1 = * Brown {{goal|53}} * Tymczyszyn {{goal|81|pen.}} * Pillans {{goal|85}} | goals2 = | stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium | location = Adelaide | attendance = | referee = }} {{football box collapsible | date = 21 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Wollongong Wolves (1) | score = 3–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round1 | team2 = '''Downer Olympic (2)''' | goals1 = * Lathan {{goal|30}} * Campbell {{goal|18}} * Adam {{goal|90|pen.}} | goals2 = | stadium = Memorial Park | location = Wollongong | attendance = 815 | referee = Ken Small }} {{football box collapsible | date = 22 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Canberra City (1) | score = 2–1 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round1 | team2 = '''Newcastle KB United (1)''' | goals1 = * Valeri {{goal|48||64}} | goals2 = * Mountford {{goal|29}} | stadium = Bruce Stadium | location = Canberra | attendance = 3,025 | referee = Tim Davies }} {{football box collapsible | date = 22 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Sydney City (1) | score = 3–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round1 | team2 = '''Blacktown City (1)''' | goals1 = * Boden {{goal|28|pen.|37||86}} | goals2 = | stadium = Newcastle International Sports Centre | location = Newcastle | attendance = 1,310 | referee = Alf Rodway }} {{football box collapsible | date = 22 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Weston Bears (2) | score = 1–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round1 | team2 = '''Rapid Wrest Point (2)''' | goals1 = * Miller {{goal|90+5}} | goals2 = | stadium = Macquarie Field | location = Newcastle | attendance = 2,000 | referee = }} {{football box collapsible | date = 22 March 1981 | time = | team1 = '''Edgeworth Eagles (2)''' | score = 1–2 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round1 | team2 = Sydney Olympic (1) | goals1 = * Kemp {{goal|62}} | goals2 = * Cross {{goal|55}} * Raskoupoulos {{goal|87}} | stadium = Macquarie Field | location = Newcastle | attendance = 2,000 | referee = Alf Rodway }} {{football box collapsible | date = 29 March 1981 | time = | team1 = APIA Leichhardt (1) | score = 3–2 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round1 | team2 = '''Auburn (2)''' | goals1 = * Morsello {{goal|19}} * O'Connor {{goal|31}} * Soper {{goal|76}} | goals2 = * Allen {{goal|1}} * Hill {{goal|51}} | stadium = Everley Park | location = Sydney | attendance = | referee = Richard Lorenc }} {{football box collapsible | date = 29 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Marconi Fairfield (1) | score = 2–1 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round1 | team2 = '''Melita Eagles (2)''' | goals1 = * Jankovics {{goal|15||62}} | goals2 = * Allan {{goal|51}} | stadium = Everley Park | location = Sydney | attendance = | referee = Gary Power }} {{football box collapsible | date = 29 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Canterbury Marrickville (2) | score = 1–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round1 | team2 = '''St George-Budapest (1)''' | goals1 = * Brown {{goal|39}} | goals2 = | stadium = Seymour Shaw Park | location = Sydney | attendance = | referee = }} {{football box collapsible | date = 29 April 1981 | time = | team1 = '''Townsville United (2)''' | score = 0–3 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round4 | team2 = Brisbane Lions (1) | goals1 = | goals2 = * Ferris {{goal|32||72}} * Whalley {{goal|89|o.g.}} | stadium = Townsville Sports Reserve | location = Townsville | attendance = 1,400 | referee = A. Barrell }}

==Second round== {{football box collapsible | date = 22 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Adelaide City (1) | score = 3–1 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round9 | team2 = '''Olympic Kingsway (2)''' | goals1 = * Mitchell {{goal|22||55}} * Villani {{goal|35}} | goals2 = * (unknown) {{goal|?||?}} | stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium | location = Adelaide | attendance = 6,328 | referee = Bobby Kerr }} {{football box collapsible | date = 22 March 1981 | time = | team1 = West Adelaide (1) | score = 3–2 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round9 | team2 = '''Cumberland United (2)''' | goals1 = * McGachey {{goal|48}} * Manecas {{goal|56}} * Norris {{goal|86}} | goals2 = * Mahoney {{goal|33}} | stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium | location = Adelaide | attendance = 6,328 | referee = Barry Harwood }} {{football box collapsible | date = 25 March 1981 | time = | team1 = St Kilda Hakoah (2) | score = 3–1 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round7 | team2 = '''Essendon Croatia (2)''' | goals1 = * French {{goal|69}} * McClunie {{goal|81}} * Webster {{goal|90}} | goals2 = * Murphy {{goal|22}} | stadium = Olympic Park | location = Melbourne | attendance = 6,000 | referee = Jack Johnston }} {{football box collapsible | date = 25 March 1981 | time = | team1 = Heidelberg United (1) | score = 1–1 | aet = yes | penaltyscore = 5–3 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round7 | team2 = '''Preston Makedonia (1)''' | goals1 = * Cole {{goal|63}} | goals2 = * McMillan {{goal|52}} | penalties1 = * Cole {{pengoal}} * Yzendoorn {{pengoal}} * Taylor {{pengoal}} * Campbell {{pengoal}} * Rooney {{pengoal}} | penalties2 = * {{pengoal}} Ollerton * {{penmiss}} Flavell * {{pengoal}} Petrovski * {{pengoal}} Lucchesi | stadium = Olympic Park | location = Melbourne | attendance = 6,000 | referee = Bob Mee }} {{football box collapsible | date = 6 May 1981 | time = | team1 = Marconi Fairfield (1) | score = 1–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round2 | team2 = '''Canterbury Marickville (2)''' | goals1 = * Byrne {{goal|62}} | goals2 = | stadium = Marconi Oval | location = Sydney | attendance = 2,000 | referee = Arthur Owens }} {{football box collapsible | date = 6 May 1981 | time = | team1 = Sydney City (1) | score = 1–0 | aet = yes | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round2 | team2 = '''Weston Bears (2)''' | goals1 = * Boden {{goal|116}} | goals2 = | stadium = Marconi Oval | location = Sydney | attendance = 2,000 | referee = Ken Allen }} {{football box collapsible | date = 6 May 1981 | time = | team1 = '''Wollongong City (1)''' | score = 2–4 | aet = yes | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round2 | team2 = APIA Leichhardt (1) | goals1 = * McBreen {{goal|77}} * Tredinnick {{goal|90}} | goals2 = * O'Connor {{goal|75}} * Soper {{goal|89||119}} * Kafka {{goal|100}} | stadium = Woonona Oval | location = Wollongong | attendance = | referee = Tony Boskovic }} {{football box collapsible | date = 6 May 1981 | time = | team1 = Brisbane Lions (1) | score = 2–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round5 | team2 = '''Grange Thistle (2)''' | goals1 = * Cameron {{goal|17|o.g.}} * Hermiston {{goal|32}} | goals2 = | stadium = Perry Park | location = Brisbane | attendance = 300 | referee = Jack Wood }} {{football box collapsible | date = 8 June 1981 | time = | team1 = '''Canberra City (1)''' | score = 2–4 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round2 | team2 = Sydney Olympic (1) | goals1 = * Gibson {{goal|?}} * Maclaren {{goal|63}} | goals2 = * Koussas {{goal|8||40}} * Wilson {{goal|?}} * Rowden {{goal|25}} | stadium = Bruce Stadium | location = Canberra | attendance = 4,300 | referee = Tim Davies }} {{football box collapsible | date = 8 June 1981 | time = | team1 = Brisbane City (1) | score = 3–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round5 | team2 = '''Mareeba United (2)''' | goals1 = * P. Wilkinson {{goal|11||44}} * McVeigh {{goal|83}} | goals2 = | stadium = Spencer Park | location = Brisbane | attendance = 1,000 | referee = Col Amos }}

==Third round== {{football box collapsible | date = 27 May 1981 | time = | team1 = Marconi Fairfield (1) | score = 2–2 | aet = yes | penaltyscore = 5–4 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round3 | team2 = '''Sydney City (1)''' | goals1 = * Sharne {{goal|?}} * Krncevic {{goal|?}} | goals2 = * Boden {{goal|46||?}} | stadium = Marconi Oval | location = Sydney | attendance = | referee = Richard Lorenc }} {{football box collapsible | date = 16 June 1981 | time = | team1 = APIA Leichhardt (1) | score = 2–1 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#Round3 | team2 = '''Sydney Olympic (1)''' | goals1 = * O'Connor {{goal|35}} * Soper {{goal|72}} | goals2 = * Cotton {{goal|78}} | stadium = Sydney Sports Ground | location = Sydney | attendance = 5,765 | referee = Chris Bambridge }}

==Quarter-finals== {{football box collapsible | date = 3 June 1981 | time = | team1 = Brisbane Lions (1) | score = 1–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#QuarterFinals | team2 = '''St Kilda Hakoah (2)''' | goals1 = * Ferris {{goal|25}} | goals2 = | stadium = Richlands Stadium | location = Brisbane | attendance = 600 | referee = Dave Nugent }} {{football box collapsible | date = 17 June 1981 | time = | team1 = '''Heidelberg United (1)''' | score = 0–1 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#QuarterFinals | team2 = Adelaide City (1) | goals1 = | goals2 = * Fashanu {{goal|87}} | stadium = Olympic Park | location = Melbourne | attendance = 2,000 | referee = Tony Boskovic }} {{football box collapsible | date = 17 June 1981 | time = | team1 = West Adelaide (1) | score = 4–2 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#QuarterFinals | team2 = '''Brisbane City (1)''' | goals1 = * Lorenzoni {{goal|18}} * Manecas {{goal|57||?}} * Smythe {{goal|88}} | goals2 = * Caldwell {{goal|11}} * Hamilton {{goal|48}} | stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium | location = Adelaide | attendance = 1,800 | referee = Jim Rossis }} {{football box collapsible | date = 8 July 1981 | time = | team1 = '''APIA Leichhardt (1)''' | score = 1–3 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#QuarterFinals | team2 = Marconi Fairfield (1) | goals1 = * Morsello {{goal|65}} | goals2 = * Krncevic {{goal|12||63||89}} | stadium = St George Stadium | location = Sydney | attendance = 3,800 | referee = Henry Witschge }}

==Semi-finals== {{football box collapsible | date = 29 July 1981 | time = | team1 = West Adelaide (1) | score = 1–0 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#SemiFinals | team2 = '''Adelaide City (1)''' | goals1 = * Bozanic {{goal|62}} | goals2 = | stadium = Hindmarsh Stadium | location = Adelaide | attendance = 6,200 | referee = Barry Harwood }} {{football box collapsible | date = 5 August 1981 | time = | team1 = '''Marconi Fairfield (1)''' | score = 2–3 | report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1981/1981NSLCup.html#SemiFinals | team2 = Brisbane Lions (1) | goals1 = * Jankovics {{goal|?||?}} | goals2 = * Bennett {{goal|46}} * Williamson {{goal|59||62}} | stadium = Marconi Oval | location = Sydney | attendance = 3,200 | referee = Peter Rampley }}

==Final== {{main|1981 NSL Cup final}}

==References== {{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1981 NSL Cup}} Category:1981 NSL Cup NSL Cup NSL Cup Category:NSL Cup seasons