1994–95 National Soccer League

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)

Changes from 1993–94

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]

Teams

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]

Adelaide City

Brisbane Strikers

Morwell Falcons

West Adelaide

Wollongong City

Melbourne

Sydney

Melbourne teams:
Melbourne SC
Melbourne Knights
South Melbourne
Heidelberg United
Sydney teams:
Marconi-Fairfield
Parramatta Eagles
Sydney Olympic
Sydney United

Location of teams in 1994–95 National Soccer League

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

Regular season

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

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion

Finals series

See also: 1995 National Soccer League Grand Final

	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)

Individual awards

• 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)

Notes

1. 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.
2. Schwab, Laurie (18 October 1994). "NSL kicking uphill from start". The Age. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
3. 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.

References

• - NSL Awards
• Australia - List of final tables (RSSSF)