OptaPro has proof Marcelo Carrusca’s injury shouldn’t derail Adelaide United’s Premiers’ Plate hopes over the final month of the Hyundai A-League season.
While there’s no doubt the Argentine playmaker is a vital part of the Reds gameplan, there’s another player in the Reds who’s statistically more influential.
OptaPro show diminutive forward Spaniard Sergio Cirio has been the one that has stood tall this season.
Cirio is the only Reds player to have started every game in the Hyundai A-League this season, playing almost every minute of the campaign so far.
Only four outfield players – Patrick Kisnorbo [Melbourne City], Michael Thwaite [Perth Glory], Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund [both Wellington Phoenix] are the only ones to have played every minute.
While Carrusca, who is set to miss at least the next two games through injury, is currently Adelaide’s leading scorer with seven, it’s Cirio who has been a dominating force on the pitch all season.
The 30-year-old is leading the way for the club in terms of assists [six], shots on goal [40] and chances created [42].
Cirio, who penned a two-year extension with the club back in January, is a major weapon in Gombau’s attack-at-all-costs philosophy, too.
The tricky winger has six goals in the Hyundai A-League to go with the six he scored in the inaugural Westfield FFA Cup, including the winner in the historic final against Perth Glory.
Aside from Cirio, when it comes to crosses it’s no surprise that winger Craig Goodwin is leading the way for the Reds with 128 for the season compared to 90 for Carrusca and Cirio’s 69.
