Our boys head south for the Club’s inaugural Hyundai A-League fixture in Ballarat against Western United on Sunday afternoon.
The Roar head into the contest on the back of a come-from-behind win over the Reds which saw them rise into the top six on the back of a strong start to 2020.
We’ve crunched the numbers & taken a look at some key areas ahead of Sunday’s clash in Ballarat.
READ: All the Ins & Outs
READ: Roar ‘enjoying their football’
Potential shootout?
Western United home fixtures are fast becoming some of the highest scoring encounters in the league. In fact, 18 goals have been scored in the last four matches hosted by the league’s newest side.
Irish Magic
Midfielder Jay O’Shea continues to prove himself as one of the league’s best offensive facilitators. The Irishman has completed 688 passes in opposition territory at a success rate of 80.7%, the most of any player in the competition.
O’Shea also ranks 10th in combined assists & chances created, creating 52 attempts for his teammates & registering three assists.
Defensive Distribution
It’s all started to click for the Roar in recent weeks who are reaping the rewards they often weren’t afforded early in the campaign.
The Roar has conceded more than one goal just the one time in the last seven outings, keeping clean sheets on two occasions in that span. The Roar’s backline has also been pivotal in their moves forward with both defensive duo Macaulay Gillesphey & Scott Neville finding themselves in the Top 20 for passing in the opponent’s half.
The Great Wall
Veteran goalkeeper Jamie Young has been heroic as the last line of defence since his return to the starting XI. The former Hyundai A-League Goalkeeper of the Year sits second in save percentage with 73.5%, keeping out an impressive 36 shots.
The numbers only tell part of the story as Young has been a brick wall at the back, denying 11 big chances throughout the campaign.
Strong Finishers
The Roar are one of the strongest finishers in the league, registering a league high 13 goals in the final 30 minutes of games. The team is also tied first with Perth, Sydney and Wellington for second half goals on a staggering 15.
Late onslaughts have helped Brisbane claw their way back into the top six and established the side as one you can never count out.
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 – Round 19: Western United v Brisbane Roar
Mars Stadium, Ballarat
Sunday, 16 February (3pm KO QLD time)
