Match Recap - Istanbul - Accra

[denismov]

The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with both teams showing their strengths and weaknesses. Istanbul struggled in their shooting, with only 2 of their 11 shots finding the back of the net. They had 6 shots off target, 1 saved, 2 blocked, and 3 on target. In comparison, Adowa Accra were more clinical, converting 2 of their 11 shots into goals. Accra had 4 shots off target, 1 hit the woodwork, 3 were saved, 4 blocked, and 5 shots on target. This difference highlights Istanbul’s difficulty in converting chances, as they had a lower shooting accuracy.
Possession and Passing: Istanbul completed 320 passes, with 20 intercepted and 341 passes received. These passes led to 2 chances and 12 key passes. On the other hand, Adowa Accra completed 387 passes, with 15 intercepted and 407 received. Accra’s passing led to 2 chances and 13 key passes, showcasing their ability to generate more attacking opportunities through efficient ball distribution. Istanbul's struggles in possession and passing accuracy affected their ability to create chances, while Accra’s slightly better passing accuracy led to a higher number of key passes and chances created.
Defensive and Tactical Play: In terms of tackles, Istanbul won 15, lost 9, and made 3 key tackles. Adowa Accra had a more dominant defensive performance with 28 tackles won, 8 lost, and 3 key tackles. This indicates that Accra were more aggressive in winning the ball back and stopping Istanbul’s offensive play. Additionally, Accra had better success in aerial duels, winning 50% of headers (20/40), compared to Istanbul's 46% (18/39).
Goalkeeping and Saves: Denis Mobek, Istanbul's goalkeeper, had a solid performance despite his earlier mistake. He completed 19 passes with a perfect 100% pass completion rate. In terms of saves, Mobek made 3 parries and 1 that was held. Accra’s goalkeeper made 1 save that was held and 1 that was parried, but they had fewer saves overall.
Key Players: The Player of the Match (POM) was T. Jimotheus from Istanbul, who scored 1 goal, created 2 key passes, and made 2 clear-cut chances. His contribution was crucial for his team, earning him a rating of 7.8. Following Jimotheus was Krznaric, who was key in creating chances but didn’t register assists, and Denis Mobek, who maintained a flawless pass completion rate. On the Accra side, T. Bello stood out with 1 assist and a solid overall performance, earning a 7.2 rating, along with Cade Power and Stig Stampe, who also had a 7.2 rating each.
Overall Stats and Performance:

• Istanbul’s average rating: 6.79
  
• Adowa Accra’s average rating: 6.89
  Both teams had 1 yellow card, and Istanbul committed around 16 fouls, while Accra had only around 10
  

In terms of each team's expected goals (xG), Istanbul had an xG of 1.69, while Accra’s xG was slightly higher at 1.71, reflecting the close nature of the match in terms of scoring opportunities.