Bossing a game early and scoring that crucial first goal can often lay the platform for three points. And ahead of tonight’s huge clash at Allianz between Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar, Opta has some timely stats.
Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City that have each found the back of the net first on nine occasions, the most of any team in the league.Â
Roar face Sydney FC tonight at Allianz and the Sky Blues along with Victory have each taken the lead only one time fewer (8).
PREVIEW: Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar
However, the Harbour City has been the hub of comebacks this season, with both Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers notching a brace of wins each after conceding the opening goal of the game.Â
No other team in the competition has done so more than once.
So, if the stats are any gauge, Roar may just open the scoring but the Sky Blues could just remain invincible after tonight’s game. Either way, it should be a fantastic game of football.Â
It’s perhaps no surprise that this season the four best teams in terms of scoring the first goal of the match are the top four ranked teams on the 2016/17 Hyundai A-League ladder after Round 12.
Interestingly, the top four teams on the ladder are also all locked in top place when it comes to conceding the first goal of the game as well.Â
Each of Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar, and Melbourne City having done so three times.
Northern NSW has been the source of the fewest opening goals this season, though, with both Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners scoring the opening goal of the game only three times each.
It’s not enough to score the opening goal, though. Capitalising on the momentum and going on to win is of course the key.Â
And it is reigning champions Adelaide United who struggle most when scoring the opening goal.Â
The Reds have lost three of the four games they’ve played this season when they’ve been first to score, while only one other team (Perth) has lost more than one such game.
