In the EFL Cup on August 8, 2023, the home team Stoke City competed against West Bromwich Albion, bagging a victory of 2-1. The teams demonstrated an equal measure of aggression and defensive play, which was reflected in their identical stats regarding corner kicks and offsides.

Stoke City took an early lead in the first half at the 28th-minute mark, setting the tone of the game. They maintained their lead with an additional goal in the second half at the 70th minute. Moments later, West Bromwich Albion struck back but it was not enough to level the game, ending in Stoke City's favour.

Despite the equal measures in corner kicks, which stood at 5 for both teams, it was Stoke City who capitalized on their chances, seen through their 2 successful goals. This suggests that Stoke City was more effective in executing their set pieces as opposed to West Bromwich Albion. This key difference undeniably played a critical role in Stoke City's win.

There was a balanced display of discipline, or perhaps lack of, from both teams, with each team earning three yellow cards. Although they had an equal number of yellow cards, it is important to note that Stoke City's first yellow card came quite early into the game at the 6th-minute mark, which could have disrupted their game flow albeit momentarily.

Despite an equal number of offsides at two apiece, West Bromwich Albion could not convert their opportunities into goals as effectively as Stoke City did. This shows that Stoke City's defence was more organized and resilient in high-press situations throughout the game.

That said, there were no red cards, indicating that despite the competitive spirit, the match did not escalate into overly aggressive behaviour warranting a sending off.

In conclusion, the match was a demonstration of closely contested football, with Stoke City just edging past with better goal conversions. West Bromwich Albion, on the other hand, would need to improve on their set pieces and be more clinical in capitalizing on their opportunities. The discipline of both teams is something to be noted as they move forward in the competition, as yellow card accumulation may become a concern in the long run.

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