In the EEST Championship, Middlesbrough faced off against Southampton on the 23rd of September 2023. Both teams put up impressive contests, but Middlesbrough managed to edge out a narrow 2-1 victory despite performing a more aggressive game that earned them three yellow cards.

Southampton opened the scoring in the first half at the 17th-minute mark, but Middlesbrough responded just before halftime at the 44th minute, equalizing the score. This demonstrated Middlesbrough's resilience and their capacity to withstand pressure and seize scoring opportunities. The decisive moment of the game came on the 66th minute in the second half when Middlesbrough scored again, capitalizing on Southampton's defensive gaps and taking the lead.

Analyzing the stats, it's clear that Middlesbrough took a more disciplined approach to prevent Southampton forward advancements, evident in the offside trap, with Southampton being called offside once compared to Middlesbrough's four times. However, Middlesbrough appeared aggressive with the team collecting a total of three yellow cards, and a close inspection of the timing reveals two were within six minutes of each other. This aggressive approach carried some risk, but it allowed Middlesbrough to dominate and control the pace of the game.

For corner kicks, both teams were almost neck and neck with Southampton edging out with seven compared to Middlesbrough's five. This shows Southampton's ability to pressure Middlesbrough's half but also points to Middlesbrough's effective defense as they were able to neutralize these opportunities.

Substitutions and the teams' use of fresh legs could have influenced the game dynamics; however, the dataset doesn't provide this information.

Overall, the significant factors determining the outcome were Middlesbrough's aggressive yet disciplining defending as they effectively controlled Southampton's attacks earning more offsides. Furthermore, their ability to fend off Southampton's pressure from corner kicks allowed them to keep the scoreline in their favor. Their resilience, evident in the quick response to Southampton's goal, also played a crucial role in deciding the final outcome.

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