1994–95 Sydney United FC season

Sydney United 58 FC
1994–1995 season
Chairman	Ivan Simić
Manager	Branko Culina
Stadium	Sydney Croatian Sports Centre
National Soccer League	3rd (League); Minor Semi-Final (Finals)
Johnny Walker Cup	First Round
Top goalscorer	League: David Zdrilic, Manis Lamond (7); All: Manis Lamond (8)
Highest home attendance	8,810 vs. West Adelaide Sharks ; (23 April 1995); National Soccer League
Lowest home attendance	1,323 vs. West Adelaide Sharks ; (9 December 1994); National Soccer League
Average home league attendance	4,445
Biggest win	3–0; vs. Marconi Fairfield ; (13 November 1994); National Soccer League; 3-0; vs. Heidelberg United ; (4 January 1995); National Soccer League
Biggest defeat	1-4; vs. Melbourne Knights ; (20 November 1994); National Soccer League; 0-3; vs. Adelaide City ; (22 January 1995); National Soccer League
	← 1993-94 1995–96 →

Last updated August 17, 2025

The 1994-95 season saw Sydney United embark on its twelfth season in the NSL. Under the guidance of new coach Branko Culina, the team finished third in the league, narrowly missing out on the top spot by just two points behind the premiers and eventual champions, Melbourne Knights.

In the final series, Sydney United defeated West Adelaide Sharks 2–1 over two legs in the Elimination Semi-Final. However, their campaign was ultimately cut short when they were eliminated by South Melbourne in the Minor Semi-Final 3-1. The team's performance in the Johnny Walker Cup was less successful, with an early exit in the first round at the hands of Brisbane Strikers 3–2 over two legs.

Sydney United's Youth team had a phenomenal year. They won the Northern Division Grand Final, defeating the AIS 2-1, and then went on to claim the National Youth League Championship with a 1–0 victory over Melbourne Knights.^[1]^[2]

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	AUS	Zeljko Kalac
2	DF	AUS	Robert Stanton
3	DF	CRO	Velimir Kuprešak
4	DF	AUS	Tony Popovic (Captain)
5	DF	AUS	Mark Babic
6	MF	MKD	Ljupčo Naumovski
7	MF	CRO	Ivan Petković
8	MF	AUS	Ante Moric
9	FW	AUS	Tony Krslovic
10	FW	AUS	Ante Milicic
11	MF	AUS	Eric Hristodoulou
12	DF	AUS	Marko Rudan


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
13	FW	AUS	Mario Jermen
14	FW	AUS	David Zdrilic
15	FW	AUS	Zeljko Babic
16	FW	PNG	Manis Lamond
17	DF	AUS	Paul Bilokapic
18	MF	AUS	Richard Plesa
19	DF	AUS	Joe Vrkic
20	MF	AUS	Dominic Ušalj
21	DF	AUS	Chad Gibson
22	GK	AUS	John Perosh
23	MF	AUS	Lou Trajčevski

Transfers in

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Age	Moving from	Type	Transfer window	Ends	Transfer fee	Source
6	MF		Ljupčo Naumovski	28	Parramatta Eagles	Transfer	Pre-season		Free	^[3]
20	MF		Dominic Ušalj	20	Leichhardt Tigers	Transfer	Pre-season		Free	^[4]

Transfers out

No.	Pos.	Name	Age	Moving to	Type	Transfer window	Transfer fee	Source
20	GK	Tony Franken	29	Parramatta Eagles	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[5]
13	DF	Klaus Okon	33	Marconi Fairfield	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[6]
10	MF	John Gibson	24	Adelaide City	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[7]
19	MF	Mirko Jurilj	20	Pkenj FC	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[8]
6	MF	Tomislav Miličević	22	Free agent	End of Contract	Pre-season	Free	^[2]

Competitions

Overview

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
National Soccer League	30 October 1994	27 March 1995	Matchday 2	3rd	24	15	5	4	34	19	+15	062.50
Final Series	17 April 1995	26 April 1995	Elimination Final	Minor Semi-Final	3	1	1	1	3	4	−1	033.33
Johnny Walker Cup	30 September 1994	3 October 1994	First round	First Round	2	1	0	1	2	3	−1	050.00
Waratah Cup	11 September 1994	11 September 1994	Quarter Final	Quarter Final	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	000.00
Total					30	17	6	7	39	27	+12	056.67

Last updated: complete
Source: Competitions

National Soccer League

League table

Pos	Team v t e	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

Results summary


Overall									Home							Away
Pld	W	SOW	SOL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	SOW	SOL	L	GF	GA	GD	W	SOW	SOL	L	GF	GA	GD
24	15	3	2	4	34	19	+15	53	7	2	2	1	17	7	+10	8	1	0	3	17	12	+5

Source: worldfootball.net

Matches

1	Sydney United	Bye
		Report

30 October 19942	Sydney United	0-0 (5-6 pens)	Adelaide City	Edensor Park, New South Wales
		Report		Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 5,228 Referee: Richard Lorenc

6 November 19943	Sydney Olympic	0-2	Sydney United	Lilyfield, New South Wales
		Report	Zdrilic 52', 71'	Stadium: Leichhardt Oval Attendance: 4,240 Referee: Eugene Brazzale

13 November 19944	Sydney United	3-0	Marconi Fairfield	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	van Egmond (og) 24' Milicic 25' Zdrilic 70'	Report		Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 5,861 Referee: Con Diomis

20 November 19945	Melbourne Knights	4-1	Sydney United	Sunshine North, Victoria
	Marth 13' Spiteri 27' Buljubasic 45' Lapsanky 64'	Report	Moric 68'	Stadium: Melbourne Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 7,525 Referee: Gerry Connolly

27 November 19946	Sydney United	0-0 (3-1 on pens)	Brisbane Strikers	Edensor Park, New South Wales
		Report		Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 2,430 Referee: N.Jones

2 December 19947	Wollongong City	1-1 (1-3 pens)	Sydney United	Fairy Meadow, New South Wales
	O'Shea 33pen'	Report	Zdrilic 40'	Stadium: Brandon Park Attendance: 3,692 Referee: Richard Lorenc

9 December 19948	Sydney United	0-1	West Adelaide Sharks	Edensor Park, New South Wales
		Report	Iriarte 44'	Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 1,323 Referee: Shaun Micaleff

18 December 19949	Parramatta Eagles	0-1	Sydney United	Granville, New South Wales
		Report	Bilokapic 44'	Stadium: Melita Stadium Attendance: 4,764 Referee: John Fraser

27 December 199410	Sydney United	2-1	South Melbourne	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Rudan 39' Hristodoulou 80'	Report	Trimboli 39'	Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 3,250 Referee: Brett Hugo

2 January 199511	Sydney United	2-0	Melbourne SC	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Zdrilic 40' Z.Babic 91'	Report		Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 2,233 Referee: Con Diomis

4 January 199412	Heidelberg United	0-3	Sydney United	Melbourne, Victoria
		Report	Lamond 12', 60' Z.Babic 82'	Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 6,572 Referee: Gerry Connolly

13 January 199513	Sydney United	1-1 (5-3 pens)	Morwell Falcons	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Rudan 60'	Report	Bothwell 42'	Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 3,487 Referee: John Papanicolas

22 January 199514	Adelaide City	3-0	Sydney United	Hindmarsh, South Australia
	Mori 4' Lozanovski 22' Melta 80'	Report		Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 3,906 Referee: John Fraser

15	Sydney United	Bye
		Report

29 January 199516	Sydney United	1-0	Sydney Olympic	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Popovic 20'	Report		Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 5,089 Referee: Bill Hugo

5 February 199517	Marconi Fairfield	0-1	Sydney United	Bossley Park, New South Wales
		Report	Milicic *71'	Stadium: Marconi Stadium Attendance: 5,425 Referee: Shaun Micaleff

12 February 199518	Sydney United	2-2 (5-6 pens)	Melbourne Knights	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Milicic 2' Lamond 66'	Report	Horvat 16' Viduka 54'	Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 3,985 Referee: John Fraser

18 February 199519	Sydney United	2-1	Brisbane Strikers	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Lamond ?', ?'	Report	Slater ?'	Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 2,430

26 February 199520	Sydney United	2-1	Wollongong City	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Popovic 43' Lamond 81'	Report	Cervinski 48'	Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 4,110 Referee: Bill Hugo

5 March 199521	West Adelaide Sharks	0-2	Sydney United	Hindmarsh, South Australia
		Report	Popovic 21' Stanton 29'	Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 3,111 Referee: M.Ingham

12 March 199522	Sydney United	1-0	Parramatta Eagles	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Kupresak 64'	Report		Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 4,624 Referee: Shaun Micaleff

17 March 199523	South Melbourne	0-1	Sydney United	Melbourne, Victoria
		Report	Lamond 42'	Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 2,802 Referee: Eugene Brazzale

24 March 199524	Melbourne SC	0-1	Sydney United	Melbourne, Victoria
		Report	Hristodoulou 26'	Stadium: Olympic Park Attendance: 2,131 Referee: Gerry Connelly

2 April 199525	Sydney United	3-1	Heidelberg United	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Zdrilic 3' Hristodoulou 49' Milicic 75'	Report	Tsolakis 80'	Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 5,910 Referee: Con Diomis

9 April 199526	Morwell Falcons	3-2	Sydney United	Morwell, Victoria
	Markovski 44' Canosa 83' Waddell 85'	Report	Milicic 20' Zdrilic 88'	Stadium: Falcons Park Attendance: 3,286 Referee: Gerry Connelly

16 April 1995Elimination Final - 1st Leg	West Adelaide Sharks	1-1	Sydney United	Hindmarsh, South Australia
	Hooker 44'	Report	Jermen 90'	Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium Attendance: 3,397

23 April 1995Elimination Final - 2nd Leg	Sydney United	1-0	West Adelaide Sharks	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Jermen 78'	Report		Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Attendance: 8,810

26 April 1995Minor Semi-Final	Sydney United	1-3	South Melbourne	Bossley Park, New South Wales
	Jermen ?'	Report	Muscat ?', ?' Kelic ?'	Stadium: Marconi Stadium Attendance: 6,072

Johnny Walker Cup

30 September 1994 First round 1st Leg	Brisbane Strikers	2-0	Sydney United	Bowen Hills, Queensland
	Brown 50', 78'	Report		Stadium: Perry Park Attendance: 1,092 Referee: Doug Prentice

3 October 1994 First round 2nd Leg	Sydney United	2-1	Brisbane Strikers	Edensor Park, New South Wales
	Lamond 45' Naumovski 90'	Report	Phillips 89'	Stadium: Sydney Croatian Sports Centre Attendance: 1,097 Referee: Neil Jones

Waratah Cup

11 September 1994 Quarter-Finals	Wollongong City	1-0	Sydney United	Fairy Meadow, New South Wales
		Report		Stadium: Brandon Park

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Players with no appearances not included in the list.^[9]^[10]

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	National Soccer League		NSL Final Series		Johhny Walker Cup		Total
No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Zeljko Kalac	24	0	3	0	2	0	29	0
2	DF		Robert Stanton	24	1	3	0	2	0	29	1
3	DF		Velimir Kuprešak	24	1	3	0	0	0	27	1
4	DF		Tony Popovic	22	3	3	0	1	0	26	3
5	DF		Mark Babic	22	0	0	0	2	0	24	0
6	MF		Ljupčo Naumovski	22	0	2	0	2	1	26	1
7	MF		Ivan Petković	15	0	2	0	0	0	17	0
8	MF		Ante Moric	19	1	3	0	2	0	24	1
9	FW		Tony Krslovic	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
10	FW		Ante Milicic	22	5	3	1	2	0	27	6
11	MF		Eric Hristodoulou	24	3	3	0	2	0	29	3
12	DF		Marko Rudan	7	2	0	0	0	0	7	2
13	FW		Mario Jermen	7	0	3	2	2	0	12	2
14	FW		David Zdrilic	20	7	3	0	2	0	25	7
15	FW		Zeljko Babic	13	2	3	0	2	0	18	2
16	FW		Manis Lamond	18	7	3	0	2	1	23	8
17	DF		Paul Bilokapic	15	1	0	0	0	0	15	1
18	MF		Richard Plesa	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
19	DF		Joe Vrkic	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
20	MF		Dominic Ušalj	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0

References

↑ Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. pp. 186–189. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.
1 2 Australia, Soccer (1995). Ericcson Cup Yearbook 1995/96 (1995-96 ed.). Victoria: Prime Advertising Development. pp. 12–13, 15–19.
↑ "Aussie Footballers - Nabbout to Neilson". Australian Premier Football Player Archive. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
↑ Cooper, David. "Simply Intriguing". Super Soccer. No. 1. Ideas Media Services.
↑ Footballers, Aussie. "Tony Franken". Australian Premier Football Player Archive. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
↑ Footballers, Aussie. "Klaus Okon". Australian Premier Football Player Archive. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
↑ Football, Oz. "John Gibson". Australia's Premier Football Archive. Australian Premier Football Player Archive. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
↑ football, oz. "Mirko Jurilj". Oz Football. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
↑ "The 1994/95 Season". ozfootball.net.
↑ "1994/95 Johnny Walker Cup Results". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 23 March 2025.

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[1] Nimac, Ivan; Dusevic, Sime; Lozina, Leonard; Nimac, Tony (2008). More Than The Game: 50 Years of Sydney United (First Edition 2008 ed.). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney United. pp. 186–189. ISBN 978-0-646-50046-1.

[auto-2] 1 2 Australia, Soccer (1995). Ericcson Cup Yearbook 1995/96 (1995-96 ed.). Victoria: Prime Advertising Development. pp. 12–13, 15–19.

[3] "Aussie Footballers - Nabbout to Neilson". Australian Premier Football Player Archive. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

[4] Cooper, David. "Simply Intriguing". Super Soccer. No. 1. Ideas Media Services.

[5] Footballers, Aussie. "Tony Franken". Australian Premier Football Player Archive. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

[6] Footballers, Aussie. "Klaus Okon". Australian Premier Football Player Archive. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

[7] Football, Oz. "John Gibson". Australia's Premier Football Archive. Australian Premier Football Player Archive. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

[8] tball, oz. "Mirko Jurilj". Oz Football. Retrieved 24 March 2025.

[9] "The 1994/95 Season". ozfootball.net.

[10] "1994/95 Johnny Walker Cup Results". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 23 March 2025.

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Overall									Home							Away
Pld	W	SOW	SOL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	SOW	SOL	L	GF	GA	GD	W	SOW	SOL	L	GF	GA	GD
24	15	3	2	4	34	19	+15	53	7	2	2	1	17	7	+10	8	1	0	3	17	12	+5

Overall									Home							Away
Pld	W	SOW	SOL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	SOW	SOL	L	GF	GA	GD	W	SOW	SOL	L	GF	GA	GD
24	15	3	2	4	34	19	+15	53	7	2	2	1	17	7	+10	8	1	0	3	17	12	+5