In a highly challenging AFC Cup encounter on 21 September 2023, Sabah FA claimed the victory with a decisive 3-1 win over Hougang United FC, demonstrating dominance from the early stages of the game. The statistical highlights of the teams' performance mirror Sabah FA's well-deserved win, with possession and attack-oriented play ultimately winning the match.

The two goals made by Sabah FA in the first half, specifically at 5:04 and 37:47, set the tone for the game. Their early goal, coming just after five minutes into the game, immediately put Sabah in control and left Hougang on the back foot. These efficient initial efforts ensured a strong lead, showing Sabah's unmistakable offensive prowess that contributed significantly to the match outcome.

However, the match wasn't one-sided all through; Hougang consolidated in the second half, as indicated by their goal at 62:20, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Despite this comeback attempt, Sabah quickly retaliated with a prompt goal at 62:30, 10 seconds after Hougang's, further cementing their lead and stifling any momentum Hougang might have been building.

Analyzing corner kicks, another key element that often reflects a team's overall dominance, Sabah FA had a notable total of 15 corner kicks to Hougang United FC's 4. A high number of corner kicks typically indicates a more offensive stance, and in this case, it underscores Sabah's propensity to continuously press in the attacking third against Hougang, thereby generating more scoring chances.

Another point of interest is the offside statistics, with Sabah being caught offside five times compared to Hougang's single incidence. This suggests that Sabah was highly aggressive and forward-leaning in their play but also ran the risk of pushing too far ahead and disrupting the formation.

On the disciplinary front, both teams maintained a relatively clean slate, with no red or yellow cards issued throughout the game. The number of fouls was also relatively low, with Sabah FA committing 12 fouls and Hougang United FC just 8 fouls. This factor points to a match dominated more by strategic play than physical altercations.

To summarize, Sabah FA's assertive play, swift response to receiving a goal, and domination in corner kicks were the key factors in securing their victory. The match data also reveals that Sabah FA was able to strike a fine balance between maintaining pressure and avoiding disciplinary sanctions. The match dynamics underscore Sabah's ability to hold their ground and underscores the team's tactical superiority that day.

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