1994–95 National Soccer League

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)

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.

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
Heidelberg United Melbourne
Morwell Falcons Morwell Falcons Park
Marconi-Stallions Sydney Marconi Stadium
Melbourne Knights Melbourne Knights Stadium
Melbourne SC Melbourne
Parramatta Eagles Sydney
South Melbourne Melbourne Lakeside Stadium
Sydney Olympic Sydney Belmore Oval
Sydney United Sydney Edensor Park
West Adelaide Adelaide Hindmarsh Stadium
Wollongong City Wollongong Brandon Park

Regular season

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts
1 Melbourne Knights (MP) (C) 24 16 2 2 4 56 25 +31 70 Qualification to 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 9 April 1995. Source: RSSSF

NBWins were worth four points. All draws were decided on penalties, with the winners receiving two points and the losers gaining one.
(C) champion
(MP) minor premier

Finals

  Semifinals Wk1 Semifinals Wk2 Preliminary final Grand final
                               
  1  Adelaide City  1 —  Adelaide City  2 (3)    Adelaide City  0
  2  Melbourne Knights  0 —  Melbourne Knights  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

Notes

  1. ↑ Pottinger, Paul (22 August 1994). "ASF put faith in radical strategy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Schwab, Laurie (18 October 1994). "NSL kicking uphill from start". The Age. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (18 October 1994). "Soccer puts a brave face on unsponsored league kick-off". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 February 2015.

References