Wanderers don’t lose when Brendon Santalab scores. Jamie Maclaren has scored 19 times but five were from the penalty spot this season.
It’s “Macca” vs. “Santa” in week one of the Hyundai A-League Finals Series this Friday night at Suncorp Stadium when Roar host Wanderers.
Who’s more likely to fire his side into week two? We crunched the Opta stats to find out.
GOALS
Maclaren earned a share of the Golden Boot, scoring his 19th goal of the season on Sunday to draw level with Victory’s Besart Berisha.
But he missed the chance to own it outright when his second-half penalty was saved by Nix custodian Lewis Italiano.
Santalab scored 14 times, but all were from open play.
Five of Maclaren’s 19 goals were penalties.
Important Finals Series ticketing information
MINUTES PER GOAL
The Wanderers veteran was far more productive in this metric.
Santalab scored a goal every 76.3 minutes this season.
Maclaren found the net every 110.5 minutes.
SHOTS
Maclaren took 79 shots at goal this season, while Santalab fired off just 37.
Both players were on target with 65% of their shots.
But Santa needed just 2.64 shots per goal, compared to 4.16 for Maclaren.
SCORING METHOD
Maclaren was extremely effective with both feet.
He scored ten right-footed goals and eight with his left foot.
Santalab favoured his right, with half of his goals coming from that boot.
But Santa scored three headed goals compared to just one from Maclaren.
Maclaren: Roar fightback a pre-finals statement
Wanderers defender: A-League finals an ‘even field’
GENERAL PLAY
Maclaren played nearly 100 more passes this season – 251 to Santalab’s 157.
But the Wanderers striker was more accurate with his passes, finding his mark 68.2% of the time, compared to Maclaren’s 64.1%.
Maclaren provided two assists for his team-mates and Santalab just one.
And Santalab was caught offside 13 times compared to Maclaren’s 23.
IMPACT ON RESULTS
The Wanderers don’t lose when Santalab scores.
He netted in nine games this season, six of which Western Sydney won, with the other three drawn.
Maclaren scored in 14 games this season, of which Brisbane won seven, drew five and lost two.
DISCIPLINE
Santalab caught the eye of the referee far more often.
He earned eight yellow cards and also a straight red against the Roar just before Christmas.
By contrast, Maclaren earned just one booking all season.
