A football match can be decided by any kind of goal. It might be a penalty, a rocket hit from 30 yards out or even an injury time header from a goalkeeper. We’ve seen them all.
There is no question that Opta-defined clear-cut (or ‘big’) chances determine games most frequently though. These are defined as shots in “a situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a one-on-one scenario or from very close range.”
If we disregard penalties, roughly one-in-seven shots is classified as a clear-cut-chance, but they account for just over half of all goals scored. Making the most of these golden opportunities is essential.
