title: How important is it to score a goal? The influence of the scoreline on match performance in elite soccer.
abstract: The goal of this study was to examine the effects of three different scorelines (1 Goal Up, Level Score, 1 Goal Down) on match performance indicators in elite soccer. Ball possession decreased when teams were 1 goal up. High Range Budget Clubs (HRBC) and Upper-Mid Range Budget Clubs (UMRBC) dominated possession against their opponents whether winning, losing, or drawing. Lower-Mid Range Budget Clubs (LMRBC) and Low Range Budget Clubs (LRBC) had less possession than HRBC. The probability of reaching the final one-third of the pitch decreased when teams were 1 goal up. LMRBC and LRBC had less match final third entries than HRBC. Similarly, shots on goal decreased when teams were 1 goal up. These findings could be used by coaches and match analysts when they evaluate performance and develop training drills.
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lago-Peñas
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-López
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D012916:Soccer / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data