It says a lot about a team’s character when they are able to win matches despite conceding first in a match.
And in the Hyundai A-League this season, the Newcastle Jets have proven to be the comeback kings.
Ernie Merrick’s men have conceded the opening goal in seven of their 11 matches so far in the 2017/18 Season, they have fought back to win four of those.
Incredibly, the Jets have lost just one of those seven matches, with the other two draws.
They’ve won twice as many as any other team in the competition after conceding first.
Adelaide United the only other side to win more than once after falling behind, with two wins from eight matches conceding the opening goal.
Central Coast Mariners, Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers are the only teams yet to win a match this season after going behind.
On the flip side, you don’t want to fall behind against champions Sydney FC.
The Sky Blues have scored the opening goal in eight of their 11 matches this campaign, going on to claim maximum points in all of those games.
That’s pretty impressive stuff from Graham Arnold’s troops.
Especially when you compare that to the Mariners who have also scored the opening goal in eight matches.
But in contrast, the boys from Gosford have won only three of those fixtures, drawing two and losing the other three.
The Mariners three losses after scoring the first goal are more than any other side in the competition.
The Reds, Roar and Phoenix have all struggled out of the blocks more than any other clubs, scoring the opening goal of the game only three times this season, while the Phoenix are the only team thus far yet to score the opening goal of the game and go on to win.
