STATS CORNER | Passing The Rayo OKC Way
Photo credit: Rayo OKC
The Spring Season has hit its midway point and the race to the title is wide open. Week 6 began with a midweek clash in Jacksonville against the Armada FC and FC Edmonton.
Here’s some key statistics heading into the weekend:
Pass Masters
Rayo OKC heads into its next match with Jacksonville Armada FC leading the way in the NASL in possession with average of 56.5 percent during their matches. It’s no surprise as the club tops the passing accuracy chart with 82.1 percent. The next highest is Ottawa Fury FC at 77.5 percent. Five of Rayo OKC’s players have over 150 total successful passes with only 25 players in the league to hit that mark through five complete weeks of action. Raushawn McKenzie has completed passes 96.72 percent of the time.
Building From The Back
Four defenders are in the top five for most touches on the ball through Week 5 of the Spring Season: Ayoze (408), Rafael Alves (357), Kosuke Kimura (352), and Michel (343). Darnell King sits in sixth with 336 touches. Ayoze (276) and Alves (272) have the most attempted passes so far, while Ayoze has completed 210 with Alves completing 208.
Defensive Fortitude
FC Edmonton has picked up back-to-back clean sheets and wins. The Canadian side has three shutouts overall. The Eddies lead the NASL in clearances (132) – with Ottawa Fury FC in second with 98 – while also leading in interceptions (102) and clocking in at third in tackles (89) and tackles won (75) and second in bloacks (15). Papé Diakité scored his first goal to help FC Edmonton to a 1-0 win in its midweek clash with Jacksonville, but his defensive performances have been key. The Senegalese defender leads the league in clearances (44), is tied for the most interceptions (22), has won all six of his tackles, and is second in the league with five blocks.
Late Arrivals
Three teams – FC Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and Tampa Bay Rowdies – have yet to score in the first half of matches. Indy Eleven and Ottawa Fury FC have found the back of the net just once so far in the first half of play. Late-game goals has had mixed results. Indy is unbeaten and is in a tie with the Rowdies for fourth place, the Eddies are just behind in sixth, while Fury FC sits in ninth and the Strikers are in 11th.
