Soccer Statistics

WHY GOALS ARE SCORED*

There are, in fact, five basic fundamental reasons why goals are scored. Sometimes, of course, there is a combination of factors, but it is a combination of two or more of the five basic factors.

1) Lack of pressure on the man with the ball. The forward that breaks through for an uncontested shot. The midfielder with enough space to play the ball forward to the striker. Any player that can play the ball forward poses problems for the defense.

2) Lack of support for the pressurizing player. Attackers look for 1v1 opportunities in the attacking third. Here the return is worth the risk. Defenders try to minimize these situations. They try to keep enough players behind the ball so that when the first defender is beaten another is close enough to control the damage.

3) Giving the ball away. The careless square pass in midfield. The lost throw in. With so many players placing so little value on ball possession it's not hard to see this as a major factor in goal scoring.

4) Restarts. This is an opportunity for the attackers to use a rehearsed play. It is also impossible for the defenders to put pressure directly on the player with the ball.

5) Failure to track players down. When opponents run at the defense late and from deep positions the defenders are faced with a significant soccer problem.

Note that reasons 1, 2 and 5 are directly related to a player being in the wrong position. The player is either too close, too far or at the wrong angle to the opponent. Reason 4 is partly because direct pressure cannot be applied to the ball.

In all 3 out of 5 reasons why goals are scored are because a player was not at the correct place at the proper moment. This is often more of a breakdown in the decision making process than in execution of any technique. Over 60% of all goals are scored with only one touch.

*Tactics and Teamwork by Charles Hughes

Are you a "numbers person"?

If so, then this page is for you! Here are stats from various sources that are often times interesting. Keep in mind that most of these are based on professional games so some of the stats will be different with youth games (for example the percentage of "headed" goals is probably lower at the youth level).

Scoring Facts of Interest

1. 60 percent of all goals are scored within 12 yards. Of those goals, 74 percent are first-time strikes.
2. 94 percent of all goals are scored from within 25 yards. Of those goals, 80 percent of all shots at goal come from moves of four or less passes.
3. On average it takes nine strikes to score a goal.
4. 50 percent of strikes will be off target.
5. 75 percent of all headed goals result from crosses - 21 percent of all goals are headers.
6. 10 shots on target will assure that a game is not lost.
7. 50 percent plus of all goals (65 to 71 percent) come from first-time strikes.
8. 40 percent of all goals come from opposition headed clearances.
9. 50 percent of goal scoring "assists" are first-time.
10. 70 percent of all goals against come from "own-half breakdown".
11. 22 percent of goals are scored at the far post.
12. 1 in 5 goals are headed.
13. 16 percent of goals scored are right-footed volleys.
14. 1v1 situations on the goalkeeper produce 5 percent of all goals scored.
15. Finishing from outside of the box:
   a. Volleys 11 percent
   b. Ground shots 82 percent
   c. Right foot 70 percent
   d. Left foot 30 percent
16. 50 percent of shots from inside the penalty area are on target.
17. 35 percent of shots form outside the penalty area are on target.
18. Of all shots on target, 28 percent of all shots from inside the area will be a goal.
19. 9 percent of all shots from outside the area will be a goal.
20. 75 percent of all goals are scored using one touch.

This article was written by Stan Nixon, Middlesborough FC, and appeared on www.soccerclinics.com, a subscription-based web site.

WHEN ARE MOST GOALS SCORED?

An analysis that was done years ago still hold true...most goals are scored in the first or last five minutes of a half, or five minutes after either team has scored. Teams that are conscience of this fact can take advantage of it and score a goal when the other team is "sleeping".