A-League: Auckland FC's heads up play stands out
Auckland FC's Logan Rogerson scores.
Photo:
Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
Auckland FC players are heads above any other A-League semi-finalists this season - when using their head.
Of Auckland's 50 goals scored this season, 11 have been scored by headers, including Logan Rogerson's
goal on Saturday
, which is the difference going into the second semi-final against Melbourne Victory this weekend.
Auckland are ranked second in the A-League for headed goals.
The three other semi-finalists - Victory, Melbourne City and Western United - have all scored six times from headers.
Rogerson, who is Auckland's joint leading goal scorer, has scored nine goals this season. Four of them were headed home.
Defender Nando Pijnaker, who is 1.92 metres tall, has scored half of his four goals for Auckland from headers.
Nando Pijnaker scoring a goal during the A-League Men Round 24 match between Brisbane Roar and Auckland FC at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Photo:
Dave Hunt/ Photosport
Pijnaker is also part of Auckland's lofty wall in defence. He is leading the club in blocks and clearances.
On average, Auckland's starting 11 in the first semi-final on Saturday were taller than Victory, despite Victory having one of the tallest players in the league, defender Lachlan Jackson.
Jackson is 1.96 metres tall. Auckland's back-up goalkeeper Michael Woud is the same height. The next tallest player on the field on Saturday was Auckland's starting keeper Alex Paulsen, at 1.93 metres.
In front of Paulsen, and alongside Pijnaker, are Francis de Vries (1.88m), Hiroki Sakai (1.85m) and Dan Hall (1.84m).
Hiroki Sakai of Auckland FC heads the ball.
Photo:
AAP / Photosport
Captain Sakai scored one of his three goals with his head. Midfielder Louis Verstraete (1.87m) scored with a header against Macarthur FC and when Guillermo May (1.81m) is not scoring with his left foot he is netting with his head.
By comparison, Victory's goalkeeper Jack Duncan is listed at 1.89m with Josh Inserra and Kasey Bos both 1.80m and Brendan Hamill 1.85m among those starting at the back and charged with stopping Auckland finding a way to goal by head or foot.
Nikos Vergos and Nishan Velupillay are Victory's joint leading goal-scorers with seven goals this season. Vergos (1.84m) has scored twice from headers.
Clarismario Santos who started off the bench in the first semi-final has scored two of his four goals via headers for Victory.
Jason Geria who left Victory part way through the season to play in Japan scored once in 12 appearances - with a header.
Auckland FC's Francis de Vries up against Brisbane Roar FC's Ben Halloran.
Photo:
Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
Being able to elevate above other players is only one part of setting up a successful header. The ball needs to be in the right place to help make it happen.
De Vries' cross for Rogerson's goal in the first semi-final has been described by Victory player Daniel Arzani as a "nothing ball" but it is the kind of play that saw Auckland claim the
Premiers Plate
.
Something similar could be all Auckland need to get into the A-League Grand Final.
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