The UEFA Europa League Qualification match between HNK Rijeka and IF Elfsborg ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams showcasing distinct tactical approaches and different levels of discipline. IF Elfsborg took an early lead with a goal at 23:02 in the first half, displaying their capability to exploit defensive lapses effectively. HNK Rijeka, however, equalized just before halftime at 46:40, demonstrating resilience and the ability to respond under pressure.

Disciplinary issues significantly impacted IF Elfsborg's performance, accumulating four yellow cards and one red card, while HNK Rijeka presented a more disciplined approach with only two yellow cards. The early yellow cards for Elfsborg, particularly within the first 35 minutes, indicated a somewhat reckless and aggressive style of play that eventually led to their downfall, as it restricted their gameplay and resulted in a player being sent off in the second half.

Numerically, HNK Rijeka dominated the set-piece opportunities with seven corner kicks compared to Elfsborg’s single corner. This statistic highlights Rijeka's offensive pressure and control in the opponent's half. However, their ability to convert these opportunities into goals was neutralized by Elfsborg's resilience and structured defense, managing to stave off multiple threats despite being down to ten men.

Teamwork and coordination in Rijeka were evident from their efforts to create goal-scoring opportunities, as seen from their higher count of shots on target, although this wasn't detailed numerically in the data provided. In contrast, Elfsborg’s offsides count of zero depicts more disciplined and well-timed attacking movements.

Overall, the match was influenced heavily by Elfsborg’s disciplinary issues, limiting their capability to maintain their early lead. Rijeka’s persistence and strategic utilization of set-pieces kept them in contention, leading to a balanced outcome. The statistical factors such as the corners count (7-1) and the disciplinary records (two yellow cards for Rijeka vs. four yellow and one red card for Elfsborg) played significant roles in determining the dynamics of the match.

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