In a close and tightly contested Cup match, Qarabag FK edged out Zira FK with a final score line of 2-1.

Qarabag FK made a strong start, scoring their first goal in the 41st minute of the first half. However, Zira FK retaliated with a well-played goal in the 56th minute of the second half. Despite this equalizer, Qarabag FK managed to regain their lead, scoring another goal only five minutes later, at 61 minutes, that would secure their victory.

Discipline was evenly matched between the teams with both Qarabag FK and Zira FK receiving 2 yellow cards each. Zira FK incurred both theirs within the second half (58 and 75 minutes) almost acting as a catalyst for Qarabag FK to toughen up their approach. The home team received their yellow cards significantly later in the game (84th and 94th minutes), which hinted towards a more physically contested latter part of the game as they strived to hold on to their lead.

While Zira FK had more shots from the corner, totaling 7 as compared to Qarabag FK's 3, they were unfortunately unable to convert these opportunities into goals. The data clearly shows Zira's efforts to penetrate Qarabag's defenses through set pieces but fell short in efficiency. Meanwhile, Qarabag FK adopted a more direct approach, relying less on corner set pieces but proving to be notably efficient in converting opportunities.

In summary, the defining factors that led to Qarabag FK's victory can be traced back to their immediate response after Zira's equalizer and a focussed, albeit rough, performance during the latter part of the second half. Their decisive actions, resilience, and quick recovery after the equalizer played a significant role in this closely competed Cup match. Despite Zira FK's more frequent use of corners and comparable disciplinary infringements, their inability to convert these opportunities resulted in their downfall. This game was a perfect demonstration of how effective utilization of goal-scoring opportunities outweighs the sheer number of those opportunities.

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