In a tightly contested match in the Veikkausliiga on 4 August 2024, FC Haka Valkeakoski edged out Ekenas IF with a 2-1 victory after a fiercely competitive encounter. The statistical factors reveal that while FC Haka displayed resilience and a slight upper hand, both teams had areas of commendable performance and points for improvement.

Ekenas IF took an early lead in the first half at 00:45:26, demonstrating early offensive efficiency. However, their inability to maintain this lead can partially be attributed to Haka's significantly greater number of corner kicks (8 compared to Ekenas' 4). Corner kicks often translate into scoring opportunities, and Haka maximized these chances in the second half, scoring twice. This set-piece advantage was crucial in turning the match around in their favor.

Discipline was also a key factor in the game's outcome. FC Haka accrued three yellow cards within the first 25 minutes, which could have destabilized their gameplay. Nevertheless, Ekenas IF could not capitalize on this disciplinary lapse, receiving two yellow cards themselves and failing to exploit the numerical and psychological advantage early bookings usually offer. This shows that both teams had bouts of indiscipline, but Haka managed to stabilize their performance better after the early setbacks.

Offensively, Haka's forwards were more threatening, evidenced by their frequent offside calls (5 for Haka compared to Ekenas' 1), pointing to aggressive positioning and attempts to penetrate Ekenas' defense constantly. Conversely, Ekenas’ lower offside count suggests a more cautious or less adventurous attacking strategy, which might have limited their offensive threats.

The high number of fouls (18 by Haka and 13 by Ekenas) indicates a high-intensity match with physical battles across the pitch. Remarkably, despite this aggression, both teams avoided red cards, highlighting a degree of controlled aggression but one that still affected the fluidity of the game.

In conclusion, FC Haka Valkeakoski's effective use of set-pieces and their ability to recover from early disciplinary issues played a pivotal role in securing their 2-1 comeback victory. Meanwhile, Ekenas IF's initial advantage and less frequent offsides indicated disciplined yet perhaps overly cautious play that did not translate into sustained offensive pressure, costing them the lead and ultimately the match.

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