In this Championship league match-up, Sunderland trounced Middlesbrough 2-0 at home, exhibiting a strong control of the game. The final score reflected the dominating synergy of Sunderland, while Middlesbrough couldn't turn up their performance.

Sunderland reveled in the highest productivity upfront, scoring one goal each at 50 minutes 25 seconds and 80 minutes 16 seconds - both goals coming in the second half. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, remained goalless throughout the match, suffering from a lack of effective attack strategies and having their lone striker sent off with a red card, further dwindling their chances of making a comeback.

While Middlesbrough managed to draw eight corner kicks - double that of Sunderland's four - they failed to convert these potential opportunities into actual goals. On a discipline level, Middlesbrough garnered a total of two yellow cards, with one player cautioned in both halves of the match, and a red card to top it off. Sunderland, however, showed impeccable discipline with no cards received.

In terms of offsides, Sunderland was offside on five instances as compared to only two occurrences from Middlesbrough. This statistic attests to Sunderland's eagerness to thrust forward quickly, sometimes a little too hastily. In spite of this, Middlesbrough’s defense struggled to deal with Sunderland’s high press, exemplified by their high foul count of 12 versus the home team’s six.

Looking at the ball possession, it seems Sunderland had implemented a more direct football style, whereas Middlesbrough tried to build their attacks gradually, resulting in a higher amount of corners and less offsides.

In conclusion, the key factors leading to Sunderland's victory were their exceptional teamwork and performance, effective conversion of scoring opportunities, and comparatively better on-field discipline. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, couldn't capitalize on the numerous corners they won and was impeded significantly by their disciplinary issues, which strained their ability to stage a spirited fightback. Overall, it was a well-earned victory for Sunderland, with Middlesbrough leaving themselves with a lot to improve upon, especially in terms of discipline and converting set-piece opportunities.

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