The assist stats reveal Marco Rojas is bossing it this Hyundai A-League season, though a Wanderers midfielder leads “chances created” and a Sydney FC star is way ahead in “passes into the final third”. Opta Data has more.
Melbourne Victory’s Rojas has enjoyed a seamless return to the league after three years abroad in Germany.
A mix of international duty and injury has meant he has made just seven appearances for the campaign but still leads the competition for assists.
While he has also got on the scoresheet six times himself, Rojas has set up six goals for team-mates, more than anyone else in the Hyundai A-League.
|
Player  |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
Chances Created |
Passes, Into Final Third |
Crosses |
Cross Accuracy |
|
Rojas, Marco |
7 |
6 |
6 |
20 |
8 |
8 |
25 |
|
Ninkovic, Milos |
11 |
5 |
5 |
17 |
87 |
13 |
38.46 |
|
Nichols, Mitch |
11 |
1 |
4 |
27 |
56 |
26 |
34.62 |
|
Oar, Tommy |
11 |
0 |
4 |
17 |
28 |
37 |
24.32 |
|
Brandán, Fernando |
11 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
23 |
25 |
20 |
|
Nicolás MartĂnez |
11 |
2 |
3 |
20 |
57 |
21 |
0 |
|
Harold, Chris |
11 |
0 |
3 |
11 |
18 |
24 |
8.33 |
|
Kamau, Bruce |
10 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
15 |
15 |
20 |
|
Nabbout, Andrew |
8 |
2 |
3 |
13 |
22 |
18 |
38.89 |
Just behind the Kiwi international is Sydney FC’s Serbian star Milos Ninkovic.
“Ninko” has arguably been the Hyundai A-League’s best midfielder over the first three months of the season, with five assists for the league-leading Sky Blues.
His five goals is also an impressive return but as the stats shows, Ninkovic is key at getting the ball into Sydney’s attacking third, playing 87 passes into that area.
Mitch Nichols is one of two Western Sydney Wanderers in the top nine when it comes to assists, and is currently equal third with four for the campaign.
Nichols, along with Brisbane Roar’s Tommy Oar, both have set up four goals but the Wanderers playmaker is perhaps unlucky not to have laid on more.
Nichols’ 27 chances created is the most of any on the list, but the Wanderers’ wasteful attack often hasn’t capitalised.
Oar’s best work has come from wider areas, notching 37 crosses from his 11 appearances. Only Sydney’s Michael Zullo (41) has made more.
While Oar is still searching for his first goal, no other Roar player has managed more than one assist, making him the team’s chief creator so far.
Wanderer Nico Martinez, Melbourne City duo Fernando Brandan and Bruce Kamau, Perth Glory’s Chirs Harold and Newcastle Jets star Andrew Nabbout are the other assist masters, all with three for the campaign.
