This weekend's Semi Final between Wollongong Wolves and Perth SC has all the ingredients to be an epic.
Both Wollongong - managed by former Caltex Socceroo Luke Wilkshire - and Perth SC were the two standout clubs from the NPL NSW and NPL WA respectively over the course of the regular season.
Although the Wolves were knocked out in the finals by Sydney United 58, Wilkshire's men were outstanding in attack and defence and both elements of their high-intensity game were on show in their 5-1 defeat of Canberra Olympic on the weekend.
Perth marched to another Championship with a win over Inglewood United in the Grand Final, continuing their dominance of the NPL WA.
The Azzurri were given a tough challenge by Victoria's Heidelberg on the weekend, but prevailed 3-2 winners in extra time.
National Premier Leagues 2019 Finals Series
POINTS SYSTEM TO DETERMINE HOSTS OF SEMI FINALS AND GRAND FINAL:
- Win within normal time (i.e. 90 minutes) = 3 points
- Win during extra time = 2 points
- Win on penalties = 1 point
- Goals scored by home team (excluding penalty shootouts) = 3 points
- Goals scored by away team (excluding penalty shootouts) = 4 points
- Goals conceded (excluding penalty shootouts) = -1 point
- Yellow cards = -1 point; and
- Red cards = -3 points
The host of the NPL 2019 Grand Final will be determined by the club with the highest accumulation of points across the Elimination Finals and Semi Finals.