In the thrilling J2 League match on the 21 May 2023, home team FC Machida Zelvia claimed a narrow 2-1 victory against visiting side Shimizu S-Pulse. Breaking down both teams' showings through key statistics and striking moments, we aim to provide a precise picture of how the game was eventually decided.

FC Machida Zelvia took an early lead in the first half with a goal at the 31:09 mark. This seemingly invigorated Shimizu S-Pulse as they were able to equalize later in the first half at 42:05. However, the decision of the game came in the second half when Machida Zelvia netted their second, and what proved to be, the decisive goal at 01:35:30.

When considering set-pieces such as corner kicks, neither team could truly overwhelm the other as both sides could only manage 3 apiece. This showcases a finely balanced contest. Interestingly, the home team FC Machida Zelvia managed to keep a clean sheet when it came to fouls, committing no infractions throughout the duration of the match. Meanwhile, Shimizu S-Pulse were less disciplined, committing a singular foul that added to their tally.

Turning our gaze to disciplinary actions, both teams were incidentally shown 2 yellow cards each, signaling the fiercely competitive nature of the match. The home team’s bookings came back-to-back in the second half at 01:23:08 and 1:27:06, respectively, which could have potentially put their lead at risk. Similarly, the away team accumulated their yellows in both halves, highlighting the consistency of the referee's strict approach to the game. Fortunately for both teams, none of these yellow cards escalated into a dismissal.

When we analyze this data in its totality, FC Machida Zelvia’s ability to maintain discipline in terms of fouls ultimately could have played a vital role in their win. The absence of needless fouls condensed Shimizu S-Pulse's offensive options, awkwardly coercing them into open gameplay where FC Machida Zelvia managed to capitalize due to their defensive strengths.

In conclusion, the key factors that determined the outcome of this match revolve around efficient goal scoring and excellent discipline from FC Machida Zelvia. While all the other parameters across the board remained fairly similar for both teams, these aspects tipped the balance in favor of the home team.

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