The UEFA Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise provided a gritty contest marked by strategic set-pieces and disciplined defending. Royale Union Saint-Gilloise capitalized on their early attacking momentum, securing a two-goal advantage within the first half-hour. These goals demonstrated their clinical finishing ability, which was a crucial factor given their total of 12 corner kicks, indicating their capability to maintain pressure and create scoring opportunities from set-pieces.

Ajax managed to respond just before the halftime whistle, albeit in stoppage time, to salvage hope with a goal making it 1-2. Despite this lifeline, their solitary corner kick compared to Saint-Gilloise's twelve corner kicks highlighted their struggle to exert sustained offensive pressure. The Amsterdam side's goal stemmed from a rare lapse in the away defense, rather than consistent creation of chances, reflecting an overall lack of attacking coherence.

The match's intensity was further underscored by its disciplinary record: both teams received six yellow cards each, with Ajax also enduring a red card reduction. This dismissal intensified the challenge for Ajax, undoubtedly impacting their capacity to build sustained attacks and control the game's tempo. Despite Ajax's typical prowess on the ball, the numerical disadvantage compounded their difficulties against a Union side resolute in defense and structured in minimizing space, typified by a lower but effective foul count that disrupted Ajax's attempts to regain momentum.

In analyzing teamwork and performance, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise's ability to transition swiftly from defense to attack was profoundly effective. Their structured approach not only facilitated goals from open play but enabled them to keep Ajax at bay despite a momentary lapse that led to a home team goal. Ajax, on the other hand, faced issues with maintaining possession under pressure and directing it into meaningful attempts on goal. Their limited shots on target, compounded by defensive vulnerabilities, ultimately meant that despite late pressure, breaching the disciplined lines of Union proved a challenging task.

Conclusively, the significant impact on the match outcome lay with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise's initial attacking zeal and overall disciplined play, particularly in managing their pressure advantage through corner kicks and a balanced defensive strategy. Conversely, Ajax's performance was hindered by their struggle to assert sustained attacking force and the discipline deficit resulting in crucial time spent man-down.

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