How do the Hyundai A-League’s top marksmen score their goals, and who provides the chances?
Roy Krishna, Adam Le Fondre, Kosta Barbarouses, Andy Keogh and Ola Toivonen are the main contenders to clinch this season’s individual top-scorer gong
Thanks to Opta data, let’s break down the scoring records of the Golden Boot contenders.
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Roy Krishna – Wellington Phoenix (15 goals)
It has been a record-breaking season for the Fiji national-team hero and Wellington Phoenix talisman Roy Krishna.
The 31-year-old has already bettered his previous best Hyundai A-League goal tally of 12 (2016/17), along the way becoming the first player in competition history to score three consecutive doubles, and is just two away goals from snapping Jeremy Brockie’s Phoenix record of 16.
Krishna’s all-round striking game has improved out of sight under Mark Rudan, reflected in his current Golden Boot-leading tally of 15.
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Four of those efforts have come from the penalty spot, while Krishna has dispatched nine goals with his right foot and five with his left – the highest left-foot total of the Golden Boot contenders – and just one header.
Two of his 15 have come from outside the box, and although the Hyundai A-League’s other top forwards have often relied on a tried-and-trusted supply line to find the back of the net, that is not the case with Krishna.
No Phoenix player has laid on more than one assist for the Wellington forward this season, a stat reflective of a Phoenix team with multiple outlets all contributing on an equal front.
Krishna’s goal stats
Adam Le Fondre – Sydney FC (14 goals)
Attempting to replicate the prolific exploits of former Sydney FC striker Bobô would have been an unenviable task for any striker.
But Adam Le Fondre has done an admirable job in his maiden Hyundai A-League campaign.
In January, the former Premier League striker became the quickest player in competition history to reach the 10-goal milestone, a feat he achieved in just 11 games.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5987489808001
Like Krishna, four penalties contribute to Le Fondre’s overall tally of 14. The 32-year-old has scored 10 goals with his right, three with his left and one header.
True to his reputation as a goal poacher, Le Fondre has registered just once from outside the box – but what a strike it was, a hammer from distance against Perth Glory in January.
Milos Ninkovic has provided three assists for the Englishman, while Brandon O’Neill has supplied two.
Le Fondre’s goal stats
Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory) – 13 goals
Although Kosta Barbarouses has not made his name as a prolific goal-scorer, a shift to a more central position at the start of the season has sparked the Kiwi’s most impressive Hyundai A-League return.
All 13 of the 29-year-old’s goals have come from inside the penalty area, with 11 unleashed from his trusty right foot.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5979495505001
It points at a winning formula devised by Kevin Muscat, with Swedish marquee Ola Toivonen playing a vital role in attracting defenders and allowing Barbarouses, always a clean striker of the ball, to wreak havoc.
The Kiwi’s clever runs off the shoulder and into space have been a dream for Victory teammate James Troisi, who has provided five assists to Barbarouses this campaign.
Keisuke Honda has also laid on two crucial contributions for the New Zealand international.
Barbarouses’ goal stats
Andy Keogh (Perth Glory) – 13 goals
Like fellow contenders Krishna and Barbarouses, Andy Keogh is in the midst of his best ever Hyundai A-League goal return.
With Diego Castro and Christopher Ikonomidis firing on either side, the Irishman has been in superb form for Tony Popovic’s side.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6002912023001
Seven of Keogh’s 13 goals have come from his right foot, four have arrived with his left, and two have been banged in off the head.
Although a smooth finisher in any situation, Keogh loves to prey on crosses and it is unsurprising to see Glory wing-backs Ivan Franjic (2) and Scott Neville (1) account for three of the 32-year-old’s sum.
Diego Castro has also laid on two assists for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers player.
Keogh’s goal stats
Ola Toivonen (Melbourne Victory) – 10 goals
Ola Toivonen has been deployed as a second striker or midfielder for the majority of his career, so Kevin Muscat invited a murmur of surprise when anointing the Swede as Melbourne Victory’s new No.9 in pre-season.
Despite not hitting the heights set by Besart Berisha, Toivonen has succeeded the legendary Hyundai A-league striker in impressive style.
Injury and illness have restricted his contribution to just 15 appearances, but the ex-Sunderland man has already left a mark on the 2018/19 season, becoming the first Victory player to score in five straight appearances, in January’s 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5977104145001
Boasting the best goals-per-minute ratio of all the contenders, Toivonen has struck six right-footed goals, two left-footed efforts, buried one header and sent one in off his midriff on that history-making night against the Wanderers.
Terry Antonis has supplied Toivonen with three assists, while James Troisi and Kosta Barbarouses have each contributed two.