The only numbers that really count are those on the scoreboard – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t dig a little deeper…
Melbourne Heart v Adelaide United
POSSESSION: 46% / 54%
SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 / 2
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 / 15
FOULS CONCEDED: 13 / 12
TACKLES: 16 / 12
EFFECTIVE TACKLES: 62% / 67%
PASSES COMPLETE: 311 / 440
PASSING ACCURACY; 80% / 85%
CROSSES: 17 / 16
CORNERS: 4 / 2
GOALKEEPER SAVES: 2 / 1
What to say about two of the most inconsistent sides in the league? Despite their second-place in the ladder, Adelaide have struggled to replicate their dominant home form on the roar -John Kosmina-s side haven-t won away since the smash-and-grab 2-1 defeat of Sydney FC back in round 8.
Melbourne Heart are similarly unpredictable; one week they look frail and unconvincing, the next their tails are up and their on the attack.
Adelaide can boast more possession, more passes and more total shots in this game but clearly failed to do anything of note, producing just two shots on goal.
Heart weren-t much better, however, but they took their chances; good for them but rather cheaply given away from an Adelaide perspective.
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix
POSSESSION; 50% / 50%
SHOTS ON GOAL; 11 / 8
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 / 23
FOULS CONCEDED; 14 / 11
TACKLES: 13 / 12
EFFECTIVE TACKLES: 65% / 71%
PASSES COMPLETE: 302 / 251
PASSING ACCURACY; 82% / 78%
CROSSES: 14 / 28
CORNERS: 2 / 11
GOALKEEPER SAVES: 6 / 4
Another game that illustrates just how little you can trust bare statistics.
Possession was even, Phoenix had the greater number of shots, crosses, corners, made more effective tackles and produced more keeper saves from the opposition… But look at the scoreline. Context is everything.
Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
POSSESSION: 60% / 40%
SHOTS ON GOAL; 4 / 3
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 / 5
FOULS CONCEDED: 13 / 15
TACKLES: 13 / 5
EFFECTIVE TACKLES: 72% / 45%
PASSES COMPLETE: 250 / 240
PASSING ACCURACY: 80% / 82%
CROSSES: 23 / 7
CORNERS: 6 / 2
GOALKEEPER SAVES: 2 / 3
Yet again, Glory lose by a single goal – this time from one of their own. Ian Ferguson-s side might only be losing or drawing by the slimmest of margins but it-s killing their season. It interesting to note just how many cards were shown in this battle, as well.
Perth well and truly dominated possession on Saturday night – not something you often see against Ange Postecoglou-s Victory.
They also made more effective tackles (with the Victory player losing the ball 72 per cent of the time, compared to just 45 per cent the other way round), made more passes and were all over the visitors on crosses and corners.
And what did it get them? Just another signal that Ferguson desperately needs to use the transfer window to provide back-up and competition for Shane Smeltz if Glory are to have any hope of making the finals.
Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
POSSESSION: 50% / 50%
SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 / 3
TOTAL SHOTS: 7 / 13
FOULS CONCEDED: 7 / 15
TACKLES: 11 / 16
EFFECTIVE TACKLES: 100% / 89%
PASSES COMPLETE: 345 / 266
PASSING ACCURACY: 83% / 81%
CROSSES: 15 / 16
CORNERS: 5 / 10
GOALKEEPER SAVES: 2 / 2
As the scoreline suggests, there was very little between the two in the most recent episode of the F3 derby.
The Jets had marginally more shots but also committed more fouls as they looked to get in their faces of their better-passing hosts.
What-s perhaps more concerning is the lack of any real impact form the Mariners; sure, they didn-t concede (check out the 100 per cent tackling efficiency!) but neither did they have any real impact upfront. Will Graham Arnold dip into the transfer market or keep faith in his squad to keep them ahead of the pack?
Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers
POSSESSION: 58% / 42%
SHOTS ON GOAL: 10 / 5
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 / 13
FOULS CONCEDED: 10 / 8
TACKLES: 40 / 44
EFFECTIVE TACKLES: 83% / 83%
PASSES COMPLETE: 455 / 245
PASSING ACCURACY: 87% / 76%
CROSSES: 21 / 14
CORNERS: 3 / 3
GOALKEEPER SAVES; 2 / 2
Brisbane Roar still love the football – the problem is they-ve forgotten what they-re supposed to do with it.
As usual, Mike Mulvey-s men had more possession and made almost double the number of passes – but where did all these passes go? Keeping the ball is great but constantly passing it five metres sideways isn-t going to get them anywhere.
Undone by Shinji Ono-s clever thinking, Roar never looked able to overawe the visitors. Visiting teams used to dread a trip to Suncorp as they would get pulled apart and punished – not any more.
The Wanderers had fewer shots, passes and corners but still looked like they knew the game was theirs.