Ballymena United vs Crusaders: match statistics
Analysis of the statistics indicates a very even match between two teams in poor form. Ballymena United occupies 10th place in the table and has lost all of their last 5 matches, earning not a single point. Crusaders are placed just behind them in 11th position, also in dismal disposition with merely 1 point in the last 5 meetings. The hosts have better defense at home (averaging 1.45 goals conceded), while the guests concede as many as 1.92 goals per match away. Crusaders show slightly better possession statistics (49% vs 44%) and shooting efficiency (13% vs 12%), which may give them a slight advantage. Given the catastrophic form of both teams, the high number of defeats, and very similar offensive parameters (xG around 1.2-1.3), I expect a tight, low-scoring meeting with a slight advantage for the guests, although a draw is equally probable.
Ballymena United vs Crusaders: form, goals and key statistics
Key match information
Ballymena United played Crusaders in NIFL Premiership (Northern Ireland). The match was played on 17 February 2026. Final score: 2:0.
Current form
Ballymena United: 0-1-4, 0.20 points/match. Crusaders: 1-1-3, 0.80 points/match.
Goal statistics
Ballymena United scores 1.15 and concedes 1.58 goals per match. Crusaders scores 1.30 and concedes 2.07. League average: 2.86 goals.
BTTS / Over / Under
BTTS: Ballymena United 50%, Crusaders 52%. Over 2.5: Ballymena United 46%, Crusaders 67%. League level: BTTS 51%, Over 2.5 55%.
xG, shots and style
Crusaders has higher xG: 1.24 vs 1.17. Ballymena United: 9.1 shots per match, Crusaders: 10.2.
Match halves
Ballymena United: half-time lead 23%, second-half goals 0.65. Crusaders: half-time lead 37%, second-half goals 0.63.
Goals by minute
Ballymena United: 61-75 (8 goals). Crusaders: 31-45+ (8 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.
League context
NIFL Premiership: 2.86 goals per match, BTTS 51%, Over 2.5 55%.
Head-to-head
Before this fixture, 2 previous H2H matches were available: 0-2-0. Average goals 3.00, BTTS 100%.
Archived pre-match analysis
This analysis was prepared before kick-off. The conclusions use only information available before the match and do not include the final result or post-match statistics.
General match analysis
Analysis of the statistics indicates a very even match between two teams in poor form. Ballymena United occupies 10th place in the table and has lost all of their last 5 matches, earning not a single point. Crusaders are placed just behind them in 11th position, also in dismal disposition with merely 1 point in the last 5 meetings. The hosts have better defense at home (averaging 1.45 goals conceded), while the guests concede as many as 1.92 goals per match away. Crusaders show slightly better possession statistics (49% vs 44%) and shooting efficiency (13% vs 12%), which may give them a slight advantage. Given the catastrophic form of both teams, the high number of defeats, and very similar offensive parameters (xG around 1.2-1.3), I expect a tight, low-scoring meeting with a slight advantage for the guests, although a draw is equally probable.
View the statistical overviewHalf-by-half
Match statistics
Pre-match profile— what do the season numbers say?
This is a team profile based on season data and form. Match-flow statistics are shown only after the fixture is played.
Team stats— who is more efficient?
Attack and defence comparison for both teams in the current season.
Shooting quality
| Ballymena United | Crusaders | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (shots on target) | 37% | 37% |
| Chance quality (xG per shot) | 0.13 | 0.12 |
| Finishing (goals per shot on target) | 0.34 | 0.35 |
xG per shot around 0.08 usually means long-range attempts; 0.15+ usually means box chances. The style label comes from possession, shot volume and conversion.
* xG (expected goals) says how many goals a team should score from its chances. If actual goals are above xG, finishing is above average; if below xG, chances are being missed.
Team form— who is in better shape?
Last five matches and season record, overall and split by home and away matches.
Crusaders is 300% better for: last-5 form.
0.2 pts / match - Ballymena United · 0.8 pts / match - Crusaders
Goals— how do both teams score and concede?
How many goals both teams score and concede, plus how often they keep a clean sheet or fail to score.
Crusaders is 13% better for: goals scored per match.
1.15 goals / match - Ballymena United · 1.3 goals / match - Crusaders
Ballymena United is 31% better for: goals conceded per match.
1.58 goals / match - Ballymena United · 2.07 goals / match - Crusaders
Ballymena United scores in 69% of matches (18 of 26 matches), while Crusaders keeps a clean sheet in 11% (3 of 27 matches).
Crusaders scores in 63% of matches (17 of 27 matches), while Ballymena United keeps a clean sheet in 19% (5 of 26 matches).
How often they score at least...
How often they concede at least...
* Statistics include both teams' home and away matches in the current season.
Both teams scored (BTTS)— how often do both teams score?
How often both teams' matches have goals on both sides, compared with the league average.
Goal patterns
BTTS and goal count
Goal count (Over/Under)— how often do these matches cross the goal lines?
How often matches involving these teams clear goal thresholds, in the full match and in each half.
Full match - team comparison (Over)
Over / Under - Ballymena United
Over / Under - Crusaders
1st half
2nd half
Match halves— when do the teams score more often?
How teams split performance between first and second half: goals, points, clean sheets and half-time state.
Crusaders is 14% better for: first-half form (half-time points).
1.04 pts / match - Ballymena United · 1.19 pts / match - Crusaders
Before half-time (1st half)
After half-time (2nd half)
Ballymena United - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 23% of matches and wins 27%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.
Defence stays stable across the full match.
Crusaders - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 37% of matches and wins 26%. Sometimes loses the lead after half-time.
Concedes 0.2 more goals per match after half-time - defensive level drops in the second half.
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 0.60 | 0.40 |
| Goals scored / match | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Goals conceded / match | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| Average goals in match | 1.2 | 1.6 |
| 1 goal | 80% | 100% |
| 2 goals | 40% | 60% |
| 3 goals | 0% | 0% |
| Clean sheet | 20% | 0% |
| No goal | 60% | 60% |
| Goal difference | -2 | -4 |
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 1.20 | 1.40 |
| Goals scored / match | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Goals conceded / match | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| Average goals in match | 1.4 | 2.4 |
| 1 goal | 100% | 80% |
| 2 goals | 20% | 60% |
| 3 goals | 20% | 60% |
| Clean sheet | 40% | 40% |
| No goal | 40% | 40% |
| Goal difference | -1 | -4 |
* Colours in tables show event frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate, red is rare. It is frequency, not a team rating.
Goals by minute— when do goals arrive?
Match phases in which both teams most often score and concede.
Most dangerous in minutes 61-75 (8 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (12). Late-goal balance (76-90): -8 - late phases are a weakness.
Most dangerous in minutes 31-45 (8 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (16). Late-goal balance (76-90): -11 - late phases are a weakness.
* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.
Additional team indicators— what do xG, efficiency and form show?
A comparison of chance quality, results and trends based on completed matches from the current season.
Match profile
Ballymena United
Crusaders
* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range are calculated from public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical match profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed matches from the season.
League context— is this a high-scoring league?
How both teams compare with league-wide averages (NIFL Premiership).
Teams vs league
| Ballymena United | Liga | Crusaders | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average goals in match | ▼ 2.73 | 2.86 | ▲ 3.37 |
| Both teams scored | • 50% | 51% | • 52% |
| Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) | ▼ 46% | 55% | ▲ 67% |
| Clean sheets | ▼ 19% | 26% | ▼ 11% |
| Goal before half-time | ▲ 85% | 77% | ▲ 93% |
| Goal after half-time | ▲ 85% | 77% | ▲ 85% |
^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.
Lineups and player events
Verified starters, substitutes and recorded player events for this match.
Home team
Starting lineup
Away team
Starting lineup
Substitutes
Match timeline
Goals, cards and substitutions arranged in chronological order.
Head-to-head
Recent meetings (2): Ballymena United 0 - 2 - 0 Crusaders. Average goals 3.00, both teams scored in 100% matches.
FAQ
What was the result of Ballymena United vs Crusaders?
The NIFL Premiership match finished Ballymena United 2:0 Crusaders. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.
What is the head-to-head record between Ballymena United and Crusaders?
In the last 2 head-to-head matches Ballymena United won 0, Crusaders won 0 and 2 ended level. These games averaged 3.00 goals, with both teams scoring in 100% of them.
What do the goal statistics show before Ballymena United vs Crusaders?
Ballymena United score 1.15 goals per game on average and Crusaders 1.30. The NIFL Premiership average is 2.86 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 55% of games. Both teams score in 50% of Ballymena United's matches and 52% of Crusaders's.
What form are Ballymena United and Crusaders in?
Over the last 5 games Ballymena United have a 0-1-4 record (0.20 points per game) and Crusaders 1-1-3 (0.80 points per game).
Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Ballymena United vs Crusaders?
The statistical background for Ballymena United vs Crusaders — form, head-to-head, goals, BTTS and Over/Under — is on this page. The tip with full reasoning and a value assessment is in the NoFluffPicks app.