Another big weekend of Hyundai A-League football, where the numbers tell another side of the story.
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Heart The Mariners always looked in control of this game and were more than worth their place on top of the Hyundai A-League ladder.
Possession: Mariners 51% / Heart 49% Tackles: Mariners 14 / Heart 17; effectiveness: 56% / 71%; yellow cards: 1 / 4 Total shots: Mariners 23 / Heart 8; on target: 12 / 8 Completed passes: Mariners 439 / Heart 346; accuracy: 87% / 81%
Possession and passes might have been equally shared between the two but the attacking and defensive stats show just how hard both sides were working.
The Mariners were certainly exerting some heavy pressure on Heart, with 23 shots, almost half of which were on target. Given those numbers it-s somewhat surprising that it took a couple of Clint Bolton blunders to open the door for Pedj Bojic.
Melbourne had plenty more to do in their own half; the number of tackles made was quite similar but Heart-s were much more effective, suggesting they were more committed to making sure the Mariners didn-t get close to goal. Heart also had a lot more names in the referee-s book at the end, showing how much pressure they were under.
Possession: Glory 52% / Jets 48% Tackles: Glory 25 / Jets 21; effectiveness: 71% / 57% Total shots: Glory 12 / Jets 16; on target: 7 / 7 Completed passes: Glory 315 / Jets 243; accuracy: 77% / 71% Crosses: Glory 22 / Jets 18
These numbers don-t show just how one-sided this game was, as the Jets afforded their hosts too much space in crucial areas and failed to apply any real pressure.
All in all, the stats look pretty equal, but Glory edged out the visitors on just about every indicator: More tackles, made more effectively; more passes; more crosses.
The only area Newcastle did better, somewhat ironically, was shots on goal. That fact they did that and still lost 3-0 only serves to indicate how profligate they were and how much harder they have to work to really inflict some damage on their opponents.
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Possession: Victory 48% / Roar 52% Tackles: Victory 26 / Roar 24; effectiveness: 90% / 86% Total shots: Victory 16 / Roar 10; on target: 8 / 3 Completed passes: Victory 335 / Roar 402; accuracy: 82% / 86%
These numbers seem somehow to some up Brisbane season so far: they saw plenty of the ball but failed to do really do much with it.
Roar had the better of the possession in Melbourne and continued their dominant passing game, even against Ange Postecoglou-s much improved side.
Victory, on the other hand, were working very hard to break down that possession, making more tackles with an impressive 90 per cent effectiveness. They also had more shots on goal and were clearly only denied all three points by Michael Theo-s determination in goal.
Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Possession: Sydney 57% / Wanderers 43% Tackles: Sydney 10 / Wanderers 24; effectiveness: 77% / 92% Total shots: Sydney 6 / Wanderers 16; on target: 4 / 9 Completed passes: Sydney 326 / Wanderers 247; accuracy: 79% / 76%
The Sydney derby didn-t go as planned for the Sky Blues, as the Wanderers ended the mini-revival under Frank Farina. But that-s only half the story.
What is probably most disappointing for Sydney FC fans is the way their side was comprehensively outfought and outplayed.
Sydney had more possession and made more passes - but that-s about it. The Wanderers made more than double the numbers of tackles at an astonishing 92 per cent effectiveness.
Tony Popovic-s side also had more than three times the numbers of shots, and double the number on target. On the face of these stats, it-s surprising they didn-t end up winning by a greater margin.
Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
Possession: United 47% / Phoenix 53% Tackles: United 34 / Phoenix 19; effectiveness: 85% / 73% Total shots: United 12 / Phoenix 23; on target: 6 / 10 Completed passes: United 373 / Phoenix 319; accuracy: 87% / 87%
Another game where the stats don-t necessarily represent the final result. Adelaide ran out winners in the end but it wasn-t as easy as the scoreline might appear.
Although the two sides were equal on passing, Phoenix had the better of possession and had almost double the number of shots on goal. Adelaide-s early blitz put them in front and Wellington did their best to get back into the game.
But it was the Reds- determination to stay in front that ultimately earned them all three points. Thirty four tackles to Wellington-s 19, with an effectiveness of 85 per cent to 73.
The home side defence worked hard to keep their lead; the visitors- didn-t do enough to keep them in the game.