In this recent installment of the A-League, Melbourne City FC significantly outperformed Western United FC, sealing a solid 3-1 victory away from home.

A cursory glance at the goals scored might suggest a somewhat equal struggle, but a deeper dive into the statistical data tells a different story altogether. The key dynamics in point here are the timing of the goals, the number of corner kicks, and surprisingly, the disciplinary record of both teams.

Melbourne City FC displayed their eagerness to score right from the off. They notched their first goal within the opening 13 minutes, setting a tempo that caught Western United FC on the back foot. Although Western United managed to equalize not too long afterward, Melbourne kept the pressure up and broke through twice more in the second half. The timing of these goals - both after the hour mark - demonstrated Melbourne City FC's patience and the effectiveness of their game plan.

Looking at the distribution of corner kicks – widely regarded as a solid barometer of offensive pressure – Melbourne City FC seemed to be on a strategic defensive strategy. With only 2 corner kicks compared to Western United FC's 6, it was evident that Melbourne City FC focused less on pushing for opportunities and more on capitalizing on the ones that came. This conservative approach proved effective, curtailing the home team's offensive efforts while preserving their attacking efficiency.

Perhaps one of the more concerning angles of this game for Western United FC was the team's discipline. The home team recorded four yellow cards, one more than Melbourne City's three. Moreover, the timing of these cards, three in the first half, can be seen as evidence of the home team's struggle to contain Melbourne City FC's effective attacking game. Two of these bookings came just after Western United FC scored their only goal, evident of their increasing frustration and struggles in midfield competitions.

The lack of offsides from Melbourne City FC suggests their strategic approach to remain behind the defensive line of Western United FC, a tactic which clearly proved fruitful in terms of reducing unnecessary turnovers.

In conclusion, while certain statistics like fouls were closely matched - 10 for Western United and 11 for Melbourne City FC - it was Melbourne's early goal, sustainable pressure, efficiency in chance conversion and better discipline that proved to be the most significant factors in their victory. Western United FC's lack of discipline as reflected in their higher yellow card count also seemed to cement their downfall in this game. It's clear that while possession and forward pressure are important in the game of football, they are of little consequence without discipline and clinical finishing.

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