The Veikkausliiga match played on 22nd April 2023 between the Kotkan Tyovaen Palloilijat (KTP) and IFK Mariehamn was a thrilling encounter, with KTP emerging as the victors with a 2-1 result.

The first goal of the match came unusually early from KTP in the first half, merely 46 minutes and 26 seconds into the game. This surprise development undoubtedly disrupted IFK Mariehamn’s game plan and created a psychological advantage for KTP. A swift response from IFK Mariehamn, however, neutralized the early lead, as they managed to net an equalizer just 24 seconds into the second half. However, KTP dealt the decisive blow when they recorded a second goal 18 minutes and 25 seconds into the second half.

One of the game's critical factors was discipline, or lack thereof, considering the unusually high number of yellow cards doled out: five for each team. IFK Mariehamn received three yellow cards in the first half alone, at 34:10, 38:34 and 41:02 into the match. Such a precarious disciplinary record, especially in a match's initial stages, can drastically affect a team's tactical flexibility, making it difficult to inject much-needed aggression for fear of invoking a red card.

Similarly, KTP also amassed five yellow cards, but these were all registered in the second half, specifically within a mere 8-second interval from 1:33:17 to 1:33:25. This was a close shave for KTP, as the flurry of cards could have left them negotiating the match's crucial stages with a player down. Neither team, though, received a red card, and so proactively managed their discipline after the flurry of bookings.

In terms of set-pieces, KTP had a slight edge, gaining five corner kicks compared to IFK Mariehamn's four. These opportunities provide a team with an excellent platform to either pull ahead or get back on equal terms, and KTP managed to take full advantage, netting their decisive second goal from one such opportunity

All in all, the match was a tightly contested affair with both teams committing equally significant numbers of fouls and striving to gain the upper hand. KTP's resilience following the early equalizer in the second half, along with their superior utilization of set-piece opportunities, were crucial in their narrow victory. Despite IFK Mariehamna's commendable fightback, they were ultimately unable to overcome the early goal disadvantage and the disruption caused by their disciplinary concerns in the first half.

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