In a closely contested Serie A match between Cuiaba EC and Botafogo RJ on 22 June 2023, the latter edged out a 1-0 victory, yet the play stats reveal intriguing facets of the game.

The only goal came late into the second half, at 59:20 - it was this critical strike that decided the fate of the game, confirming Botafogo RJ's superiority on the day. However, the rest of the action was spread evenly across both halves and both teams.

One of the remarkable aspects of this game was the disparity in corner kicks between the two teams. Despite ending goalless, Cuiaba EC led the charge in this area with 6 opportunities from corners, a data point that indicates the home team oversaw a majority of the game's attacking chances. In comparison, Botafogo RJ only managed to squeeze out 2 corner kicks. However, their efficiency in utilising their chances is noted in the fact they turned one of their limited opportunities into the decisive only goal.

Discipline-wise, both sides ended the match with a balanced sheet. Each team collected two yellow cards apiece, distributed in the latter stages of the game. The away team received their bookings earlier, with a yellow card at 40:15 in the first half and another at 08:15 into the second half. Meanwhile, Cuiaba EC's discipline began to lapse in the latter stages of the second half – drawing a yellow card at 20:32 and another past the half-hour mark at 32:34.

Looking at the bigger picture, the match was relatively even as depicted by the discipline levels. Nevertheless, it was clear cut that Botafogo RJ managed to capitalise on their opportunities more effectively, ultimately proving the decisive factor in their victory. The goal scored late into the second half signals the team's resilience to continue hunting for victory until the final whistle. On the other hand, Cuiaba EC lacked the sharpness upfront, considering they created more chances from corner kicks but were unable to convert for maximum points.

Overall, Botafogo RJ’s ability to convert their relatively limited chances was critical to their win while Cuiaba EC - despite controlling aspects of the game - were left ruing missed opportunities. The data proves that efficiency, not just quantity, can often be the key to snatching all three points in such tightly contested matches.

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