The EFL Cup match between Everton and Southampton held on 17 September 2024, was a thrilling encounter, culminating in a dramatic penalty shootout. With Everton scoring six goals and Southampton edging past with seven, the game was a testament to both teams' attacking prowess and somewhat porous defenses. Statistically, Everton had a slight edge in corner kicks with nine compared to Southampton’s four, which suggests their attack was more consistent and sustained over the course of the match.

Analyzing the impact of disciplinary factors, Everton accumulated three yellow cards with Southampton collecting one. The first two yellow cards were almost back-to-back in the 27th and 31st minutes, potentially displaying a brief period of frustration and aggression from both teams. Everton’s third came much later in the match, at the 126th minute, indicative of the intense effort and heavy physicality as both sides fought hard in extra time.

A significant factor in Southampton's victory can be traced to their efficiency and composure during the penalty shootout. Although both teams scored one goal each in regular time, Southampton managed to keep their nerve and score the decisive penalties. This crucial difference in finishing during high-pressure situations highlights Southampton's superior mental fortitude in this encounter.

Everton’s nine corners to Southampton’s four show a dominant performance in generating set-piece opportunities, which often correlate with pressure on the opponent’s goal. Surprisingly, this statistical dominance did not translate into open-play goals, hinting at potential inefficiencies in capitalizing on these opportunities or excellent defending by Southampton during set-pieces.

In conclusion, while both teams displayed significant attacking abilities, Southampton's superior penalty shootout performance, combined with their disciplined gameplay (reflected by fewer yellow cards), were the deciding elements that led to their victory. Everton's failure to convert set-piece dominance into an advantage proved a critical shortcoming in this closely contested match.

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