The UEFA Europa League Qualification match between Cercle Brugge KSV and FC Kilmarnock was narrowly decided in favour of the home team, partly due to an early goal. Scored in the first half at 21:04, this goal became the decisive moment of the match. From a performance metrics standpoint, the goal was crucial, given that both teams struggled to create significant goal-scoring opportunities for the rest of the match.

FC Kilmarnock's more aggressive approach was evident from their higher foul count, particularly 17 compared to Cercle Brugge’s 12 fouls. This aggressiveness also translated into discipline issues, with Kilmarnock receiving two yellow cards in the second half (48:24 and 68:38). In contrast, Cercle Brugge maintained better discipline with only one yellow card late in the second half (96:50).

Cercle Brugge's strategy appeared more conservative, which manifested in fewer attacking opportunities like corner kicks (1 compared to Kilmarnock's 4). However, the home team’s compact play resulted in zero offsides, indicating well-coordinated forward plays. Kilmarnock, on the other hand, was caught offside once, reflecting occasional lapses in timing their attacks.

While the match stats don’t provide shots on target or goalkeeper saves, the corner kicks data suggest that Kilmarnock may have created more aerial threats. Yet, their inability to convert these opportunities, possibly due to effective defensive setups from Cercle Brugge, rendered these set pieces ineffective. Thus, the early goal, combined with disciplined defensive play and fewer fouls, allowed Cercle Brugge to maintain their slim lead throughout the match.

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