This Sunday night is the most crucial game of the season and one of the biggest spectacles that Netstrata Jubilee Stadium has ever seen, as Sydney FC take on Melbourne Victory in a massive Semi-Final edition of the #BigBlue.
Two integral players in their respective line-ups are full-backs Thomas Deng from Melbourne and our very own Socceroo superstar Rhyan Grant.
The two sides have done battle three times this season, as the latest clash saw Sydney FC come out on top, and Grant is always a big part of any win the home side pick up – and this Sunday night will be no different.
Let’s take a look at the ‘Head to Head’ statistics between two stars of this weekend’s clash.
|
23. Rhyan Grant |
|
14. Thomas Deng |
|
28 |
AGE |
22 |
|
174cm |
HEIGHT |
178cm |
|
Canowindra, NSW |
BORN |
Nairobi, Kenya |
|
Right back |
POSITION |
Right back/Centre back |
|
N/A |
FORMER CLUBS |
Jong PSV (loan) |
|
166 |
A-LEAGUE APPEARANCES |
64 |
|
7 |
INT’L APPEARANCES |
1 |
|
20 games 2 assists 77.1% pass accuracy 62.5% tackle success rate 54.8% aerial duel success rate One beautiful mullet |
2019 A-LEAGUE STATS |
27 games 1 assist 85.7% pass accuracy 54.5% tackles won 53.5% aerial duel success rate No mullet |
It will be a hotly-contested battle between our Socceroos hero and the Victory young gun, but there is so much on the man with the mullet’s side that it will be hard to go past him in this one-on-one contest.
Grant leads the way in this battle when it comes to assists this season despite playing seven less games and has also come up trumps in more of his tackles compared to Deng. The Victory defender does however have a higher pass accuracy but Grant’s experience in big games gives him a clear edge, while his aerial threat is also evident.
It will be a great battle between the two and this Sunday night only one of them will make their way into the Grand Final – and there is no doubt the energy that Grant brings on the right flank will go a long way to cementing the Sky Blues’ place in the big dance and get some semblance of retribution after last year’s heartbreak.
