National_Soccer_League_1994-95
1994–95 National Soccer League
19th season of top-tier soccer league in Australia
The 1994–95 National Soccer League season, was the 19th season of the National Soccer League in Australia. The season ended with Melbourne Knights winning the championship and minor premiership double.
| NSL 1994-95 | |
|---|---|
| League | National Soccer League |
| Sport | Association football |
| Duration | 1994–95 |
| Number of teams | 13 |
| NSL season | |
| Champions | Melbourne Knights |
| Minor premier | Melbourne Knights |
| Top scorer | Mark Viduka (18) |
| National Soccer League seasons | |
In August 1994 the Australian Soccer Federation (ASF) announced to mixed reaction that all regular season league matches would be decided by penalty shootout if the game was drawn at the end of 90 minutes of play. Four points were awarded for a win, two for a win on penalties, one for a penalty loss and no points for a loss in regulation time.[1]
Prior to the start of the season, the Newcastle Breakers withdrew from the competition citing financial difficulties. The withdrawal of the Breakers left 13 teams, meaning each team had two byes for the season.[2][3]
| Team | Home city | Home ground |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide City | Adelaide | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| Brisbane Strikers | Brisbane | Perry Park |
| Heidelberg United | Melbourne | Olympic Village |
| Morwell Falcons | Morwell | Falcons Park |
| Marconi-Stallions | Sydney | Marconi Stadium |
| Melbourne Knights | Melbourne | Knights Stadium |
| Melbourne SC | Melbourne | Olympic Park |
| Parramatta Eagles | Sydney | Melita Stadium |
| South Melbourne | Melbourne | Middle Park Lakeside Stadium |
| Sydney Olympic | Sydney | Leichhardt Oval Belmore Oval |
| Sydney United | Sydney | Edensor Park |
| West Adelaide | Adelaide | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| Wollongong City | Wollongong | Brandon Park |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne Knights (C) | 24 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 56 | 25 | +31 | 70 | Qualification for the Finals series |
| 2 | Adelaide City | 24 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 41 | 20 | +21 | 69 | |
| 3 | Sydney United | 24 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 34 | 19 | +15 | 68 | |
| 4 | Morwell Falcons | 24 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 41 | 37 | +4 | 47 | |
| 5 | West Adelaide | 24 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 28 | 32 | −4 | 45 | |
| 6 | South Melbourne | 24 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 42 | 36 | +6 | 44 | |
| 7 | Brisbane Strikers | 24 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 34 | 32 | +2 | 41 | |
| 8 | Wollongong City | 24 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 39 | 46 | −7 | 38 | |
| 9 | Sydney Olympic | 24 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 34 | −7 | 37 | |
| 10 | Marconi Fairfield | 24 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 34 | 43 | −9 | 35 | |
| 11 | Melbourne SC | 24 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 20 | 37 | −17 | 34 | |
| 12 | Parramatta Eagles | 24 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 25 | 34 | −9 | 33 | |
| 13 | Heidelberg United | 24 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 27 | 53 | −26 | 28 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion
| Elimination finals | Semifinals | Preliminary final | Grand final | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Adelaide City | 1 | 2 | (3) | Adelaide City | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Melbourne Knights | 0 | 1 | (1) | Melbourne Knights | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Melbourne Knights | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Sydney United | 1 | 1 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
| South Melbourne | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | West Adelaide | 0 | 1 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sydney United | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| South Melbourne | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Morwell Falcons | 0 | 1 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | South Melbourne | 1 | 5 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||
- Player of the Year: Mark Viduka (Melbourne Knights)
- U-21 Player of the Year: Mark Viduka (Melbourne Knights)
- Top Scorer: Mark Viduka (Melbourne Knights) – 18 goals
- Coach of the Year: Zoran Matic (Adelaide City)
- Pottinger, Paul (22 August 1994). "ASF put faith in radical strategy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- Schwab, Laurie (18 October 1994). "NSL kicking uphill from start". The Age. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
- Cockerill, Michael (18 October 1994). "Soccer puts a brave face on unsponsored league kick-off". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.