In what was a masterclass of clinical finishing from the Pro League home team, Royal Antwerp FC romped to an impressive 4-1 victory over visitors Royal Charleroi SC on the day, 21st January 2024. This match saw a number of intriguing stats play out, which not only highlighted the team strengths and dynamics but also signified specific game-changing moments.

The scoring started early with the home side netting their first goal at the 00:19:12 of the first half, followed by another one at the 00:41:09 mark. These early goals significantly contributed to Royal Antwerp FC’s dominance of the match. The ability to take a strong lead in the first half allowed them to dictate the pace of the game and put pressure on Royal Charleroi to respond.

While the away team did attempt to increase their offensive pressure in the second half – as evidenced by their higher number of corner kicks (6 vs Royal Antwerp FC's 5) – the sturdy defense and tactical discipline from Royal Antwerp FC denied them enough penetration into the danger areas, thus keeping the threat level minimal.

Royal Antwerp FC continued their scoring spree in the second half, adding two more goals at the 01:04:36 and 01:15:40 marks before the away team managed to pull one back in the 01:25:08. Despite having fewer corner kicks, the home team capitalised on their efforts more effectively. This indicates that their conversion of chances into goals was superior on the day, which proved significantly impacting on the course of the match.

Royal Charleroi SC's discipline also seemed to lapse under pressure and frustration. This factor evidenced by the number of yellow cards they received. Two yellow cards were issued to the away team, one in each half, while the home side only received one in the second half. These cards for the away team could have disrupted their momentum and further hampered their performance.

Also, while both the teams showed commendable discipline in terms of fouls with only 4 infringements in total (3 by the home side and 1 by the away), the home side demonstrated superior control of the ball and space with only 2 offsides compared to the 1 offside of the away team. This minimized interruptions in their gameplay and perhaps allowed them to maintain a smoother game flow.

In conclusion, the combination of early scoring, efficient creation and conversion of scoring opportunities and maintaining a better discipline were key factors in Royal Antwerp’s victory over Royal Charleroi SC. Despite the high corner kicks from the away team, their lack of clinical finishing and disciplinary issues ultimately contributed significantly to their defeat.

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