Pendikspor had the chances and the ball, but not the goals

Pendikspor created more than they usually do at home, yet lost 2-0 to İstanbulspor, who scored both from fewer chances than they normally make away.

Pendikspor created more than they usually do at home and still went home without a goal. Their expected goals figure, which adds up how likely each shot was to go in, reached 1.37. Their home average is 0.85, so the openings were better than normal, and İstanbulspor still came away with both points.

The ball told a similar story. Pendikspor had 59% of the possession, well up on the 52% they usually hold at home, and completed 456 of their 518 passes. Possession and chances are not the same thing, and this match shows why, because neither one turned into a goal for the home side.

İstanbulspor had 41% of the ball, which is close to the 43.4% they average on their travels. Their chances were thinner than usual, with 0.78 expected goals against an away average of 1.25. What they did have was accuracy: seven of their shots were on target, and both of their goals came from shots that found the target or close to it.

Alieu Cham gave the visitors the lead in the 69th minute, set up by Abdullah Dijlan Aydin, who also won nine individual duels, a figure that stands out in this game. Aytaç Kara added the second in the 90th minute, leaving the home crowd with a late goal to chase rather than a comeback to build. Pendikspor usually score 1.1 goals a home match, and here they managed none.

Pendikspor's home record now reads three wins, five draws and five defeats from thirteen matches, which gives them 14 points. The gap between chances and goals is the kind of thing that can stay hidden for a while, but it is hard to ignore when the expected goals figure is this high and the scoreboard shows nothing.

For İstanbulspor the result adds to a long wait for away points. They have one win, two draws and ten defeats from thirteen matches on the road, and have scored 10 goals in that time. This afternoon accounted for two of those, and it was a result earned with less of the ball and fewer openings than they usually have on their travels.

Player of the matchAlieu Cham1 goal8.0

A. Tutar4 saves7.7

D. Aydın1 assist7.7

A. Kara1 goal7.3