In an intense and exhilarating EFL Cup match on the 8th of August, 2023, Stevenage, the home team, edged out Watford with a final score of 5-4.

In the onset, Watford drew first blood with an early goal in the first half at the 6:13-minute mark. However, Stevenage proved resilient and levelled the score before the break with a goal at the 42:21-minute mark. The first half of the game showed intensity from both sides but it was clear that Stevenage was more dominant. They were successful in finding the back of the net, balancing the first half score.

The second half of the match was incredibly tense and demonstrated great strategy from both sides. With the stakes high, Stevenage played aggressively and in the process, accumulated three yellow cards in the 60th, 64th and 100th minute. Watford, on the other hand, despite facing disciplinary issues with 5 yellow cards, held on and it was noticeable in their game. However, the numbers indicated that the game was ferociously contested, the number of yellow cards indicated robust challenges flying in with Watford getting five while Stevenage got three.

The deciding goal came from Stevenage was surprisingly in the form of penalty kick, which seemed to be the most significant game changing factor, crowning them the winners of the night. This was a special victory that was well earned rather than given and Stevenage demonstrated a high level of technical skill to score the deciding goal.

Looking at the corner kick statistics, it was another facet of the game that Stevenage demonstrated superiority. They were awarded 4 corner kicks, compared to Watford's three which indicated they were more effective in maintaining pressure in Watford's half.

Even though Watford's aggression was quite commendable, the match slowly turned Stevenage's way due to their strong disciplinary record and aggressive attacking front. The data provided distinctly show that while Watford had an upper hand initially with an early goal, their strategy was marred by the numerous yellow cards and inability to keep up with Stevenage's imposing attack.

To sum up, Stevenage's solid defence, effective attacks resulting in corner kicks and the unexpected penalty were the key factors that provided them the decisive victory. Even though it was a high scoring match, it was the discipline, tactical proficiency and teamwork that tipped the scales in Stevenage's favour. In contrast, Watford despite their hard fight, fell short mostly due to their disciplinary issues and slightly less effective attacks that could not match the strength of Stevenage's defence. The statistical data clearly shows how a well-disciplined and strategically sound team like Stevenage managed to bring down a robust team like Watford.

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