PHANTOM STAT

Türkiye secured a 1–0 victory over Romania in World Cup qualifying on 26 March, controlling proceedings through superior possession and shot volume. The hosts dominated with 68% possession and 16 attempts, though their clinical edge was modest: just two shots on target and 0.88 expected goals, suggesting they converted a chance of marginal quality. Romania, deployed in an identical 4–2-3-1 setup, offered limited attacking threat, managing only six shots with none finding the target and accumulating 0.66 xG. The visitors' goalkeeper made a 50% save rate from two efforts faced, keeping the deficit to a single goal despite the possession disparity. Türkiye's goalkeeper faced limited pressure, conceding 1.0 post-shot expected goals without recording any saves above expected value. The match reflected a familiar pattern in qualifying: the home side's control translated into a narrow but decisive margin. This result strengthens Türkiye's qualifying campaign momentum considerably.