The moot is: the team that wins is the better

[Gamma]

Team on the day.

[Peter R]

I wouldn't argue with that!

[Gamma]

They took zero shots and won 1-0 on the basis of a back pass that the goalie mis-kicked...

[Peter R]

Sports can be cruel. The "better" team should win...but if they can't get one in by any means... in the end, all "they" will remember is the score.

[Gamma]

So you stand by your absolute statement that once a team wins it is better team on the day regardless of the circumstances

[Islandman]

I would say yes, unless the result was impacted by the ref or some off-the-field incident.

[Gamma]

Wow!

in every statistic they cede to the opponent save that the goalie in clearing a back pass and under no pressure miscues the clearance and concedes an own goal which is the difference and the match and the winner is considered the better team on the day?!!

[Peter R]

Some would argue that the only stat that matters is the score. They might also argue that to prove your superiority you must score. So while the losing team can take solace in having dominated, they should also reflect on why the couldn't score. Were they good enough?

Having said this, if I were to bet on these two teams in a subsequent match, given the info you provided, I'd probably bet on the previously dominant team.

[Islandman]

In every statistic except the one that matters most

[Gamma]

Yes but even so they had no shots on goal.

Anyway it's seems a rather trite way to make that determination and it discourages analysis especially if it is taken as an absolute

[Islandman]

In the end it comes down to how you define "better" though doesn't it?

I suppose being the "better" team at getting the desired result on the day doesn't necessarily mean you were the technically superior team on the day.

[Gamma]

My difficulty is finding the statement 'the better team won' to be an absolute truism.

[Muadib]

Rank nonsense as an absolute statement.

"May the best team win"... ??

[Gamma]

Extrapolate...

[Muadib]

What does the wish: "May the best team win" imply ?