Catch up on the Isuzu UTE A-League Team of the Week, powered by Opta.
The Isuzu UTE A-League continued over the weekend and there was plenty of excitement, goals and drama in Round 4.
Sydney FC star Joe Lolley headlines the latest Team of the Week thanks to his goalscoring performance in the Sky Blues’ 2-0 win over Macarthur Bulls at Leichhardt Oval.
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Note: The weekly Team of the Week will feature matches played from Monday to Sunday.
Team of the Week
What is the Opta Points system?
Opta Points is a system where points are given to players for certain on-field actions. Players who complete the full game duration on the field typically end up with a point total ranging from 10 to 40 points. (View the full breakdown of Opta Points below)
HE SAID WHAT? EVERY word from your Isuzu UTE A-League coach after Round 4
Lolley was the top scorer in Round 4 with 40.6 as in-form Sydney soared up to second in the Isuzu UTE A-League standings.
The English forward ranked just ahead of Melbourne City goalkeeper Patrick Beach (36.8), who capped his CommBank Socceroos call-up with a standout performance in Saturday night’s derby win against Melbourne Victory and Auckland FC striker Sam Cosgrove (36.6). The latter impressed as the nine-man Black Knights took down Wellington Phoenix 2-1.
Jesse Randall (31) was also in the Team of the Week following another impressive performance, while goalscoring Brisbane Roar captain Jay O’Shea (34.8), Sydney FC midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler – also called up by the Socceroos – and Wellington skipper Alex Rufer rounded out the midfield.
Roar defender Lucas Herrington (32.8) and Sydney FC centre-back Marcel Tisserand (31.4) both found the back of the net to headline a back four that also includes Adelaide United full-back Dylan Pierias (30.6) and Perth Glory’s Joshua Risdon (26).
Isuzu UTE A-League Team of the Week
Goalkeeper: Patrick Beach (Melbourne City, 36.8)
Defenders: Dylan Pierias (Adelaide United, 30.6), Lucas Herrington (Brisbane Roar, 32.8), Marcel Tisserand (Sydney FC, 31.4), Joshua Risdon (Perth Glory, 26)
Midfielders: Paul Okon-Engstler (Sydney FC, 28), Jay O’Shea (Brisbane Roar, 34.8), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix, 27.8)
Forwards: Jesse Randall (Auckland FC, 31), Sam Cosgrove (Auckland FC, 36.6), Joe Lolley (Sydney FC, 40.6)
Explained: Opta’s Team of the Week using Opta Points
The scoring system distinguishes only between field players and goalkeepers, assigning the same number of points to all field players for corresponding actions. A distinctive feature of this system is its exclusive focus on in-game actions, refraining from awarding points for post-game performances, such as securing a victory or allocating bonus points for maintaining a clean sheet.
Positive actions (goals, passes, tackles, etc…) will add to a player’s score and, conversely, negative actions (cards, own goals, goals conceded) will reduce a player’s points total. Theoretically, a player’s points value is unlimited, and players can conclude a game with negative points. However, players who complete the full game duration on the field typically end up with a point total ranging from 10 to 40 points.
Goals, Shots on target, shots off target, blocked shots, own goal, assists, passes, crosses, tackles, interceptions, fouls won, fouls conceded, offsides, yellow cards, red cards, goals conceded, penalty won, saves, penalty saved are included in Opta Points.
