KEY POINTS:
Things have gone from a feast to a famine in the A-League goal-scoring stakes.
After a record-equalling 21 goals in round three, the strikers were some place else in round four with just four goals finding the net.
A deeper search reveals even more disturbing statistics.
Those four
goals - three in one match as Queensland Roar cruised home 3-0 over Perth away - came from 95 attempts.
The goal Melbourne Victory scored in front of 24,812 fans at the Telstra Dome for their 1-0 home win over Adelaide United came when, after a perfect Hyundai A-League record of 17 successful strikes from the penalty spot, Victory captain Kevin Muscat was denied by Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic.
But fate was against the keeper as Muscat followed up and hit the rebound home. Melbourne, who played the last hour a player short after Matthew Breeze had sent Ney Fabiano off, held on to score their third win and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
But it was the goal drought - and some superb goalkeeping - which was the talking point.
No team managed to score from the 52 corners forced in the weekend's action.
Two games had a nil return with Adelaide failing to convert any of 10 such set plays.
In also missing 16 scoring attempts they could blame only themselves as they lost for the first time this season.
Central Coast Mariners were also guilty of failing to score from their 16 chances at Westpac Stadium.
They also forced six corners. Again, to no avail although it must be conceded they found Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss in sublime form with three or four stunning saves.
For their part, the Phoenix had a poor match on attack with just four clear attempts on the Mariners' goal and just two corners to show for their attacking pressure.
Queensland shrugged off the long trip to Western Australia and returned as the big winners claiming their first victory of the season and a share of fourth place.
For Perth the game at Members Equity Stadium was a nightmare.
The slumped to their third loss and the bottom of the table, had six players booked (their yellow card tally is already 13, and with a red for Dino Djulbic to boot) and lost key playmaker Amaral to a hamstring injury which is expected to sideline him for at least a month. Their only advantage is having a week at home to prepare for Sunday's game with the Phoenix - an opponent coach Dave Mitchell is determined to see off and get above on the league ladder.
Despite 15 attempts, and 11 corners, Newcastle Jets failed to score against visiting Sydney FC who were just as bad in missing their seven attempts and failing to convert any of their nine corners at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
At least Sydney ended the round with their unbeaten record intact as they prepare for Saturday's home game with Adelaide.
Queensland entertain Newcastle in Friday's round five opener while in a second game on Saturday, Central Coast face the daunting visit from table-topping Melbourne.