In soccer, an attempt to score a goal is considered successful when the ball is directed towards the net and would have entered the goal if not for the intervention of the goalkeeper, a defending player, or the goalpost or crossbar preventing it from going in. A shot that goes wide or high of the goal frame, or is blocked by a defender before reaching the goal area, does not count. For example, a powerful strike that the goalkeeper parries away is counted, while a weak effort easily intercepted by a defender far from the goalmouth is not.
This statistic provides a crucial measure of attacking effectiveness, differentiating between mere attempts and genuine scoring opportunities. It offers valuable insights into a team’s offensive prowess and a player’s finishing ability. Historically, tracking attempts directly at the goal has become a standard metric, allowing for deeper analysis of match performance and long-term trends in the sport.