In this closely-contested Premier Division match held on 31 March 2023, Derry City edged out Shelbourne FC with a narrow 1-0 victory. As reflected by the comparative data points, the figures tell the story of a Derry City team that adhered to the dictum that in football, you do not always need to dominate to win.

One of the most standout statistics of this match was the early goal scored by Derry City in the first half at the 10-minute mark. This early breakthrough allowed the visitors to adopt a more defensive strategy for the rest of the match. The statistics showcase this strategy through indicators such as the higher number of corner kicks won by Derry City (5) compared to Shelbourne FC (2), pointing to their calculated attacking approach.

On the disciplinary front, both teams were on an equal footing, with 3 yellow cards each. But this neutrality was tilted when Shelbourne FC received a red card. This numerical disadvantage could have played a decisive role in the outcome of the match, sealing Shelbourne FC's defeat.

Furthermore, from a strategic point of view, Derry City seemed to have successfully managed to disrupt Shelbourne FC's attacking dynamics, causing the home team to be flagged offside once while the away team was called offside twice. This shows Derry City’s tactical efficiency in their defensive setup to frustrate their opponents' offensive efforts.

While Shelbourne FC were well-controlled in their physicality with only one foul committed, Derry City committed three fouls, which could suggest a more aggressive style of play from the visitors aimed at unsettling their opponents and breaking down their rhythm - a tactic that seems to have paid off.

Overall, the defining elements of this match were the early goal from Derry City, the red card received by Shelbourne FC and the subsequent numerical disadvantage, as well as Derry City's solid defensive play which shielded them from equalizing efforts. As a result, Derry City demonstrated a shrewd mix of clinical finishing and asphyxiating defending to secure all three points.

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