In a thrilling Irish Cup match, Cliftonville emerged victorious over Coleraine FC with a scoreline of 5-3. The decision was finalised through penalty kicks, marking a dramatic end to an intensely competitive encounter. An analysis of the match statistics and key performance indicators highlights the aspects that contributed most significantly to Cliftonville's win.

Initially, Cliftonville demonstrated a strong and aggressive approach, scoring an early goal within the first 13 minutes of play, setting the tone for the match. This early lead would have been psychologically advantageous, putting Coleraine on the back foot. Despite this, Coleraine managed to equalize early in the second half and even took the lead midway through, showcasing their resilience and adaptability.

A vital part of Cliftonville's ability to regain control was their efficient use of corner kicks; though they had one fewer than Coleraine (4 vs. 5), their set-piece organization proved formidable. Furthermore, Cliftonville exhibited superior discipline in terms of fouls, committing only four compared to Coleraine's single foul. This defensively sound approach perhaps minimized the risk of dangerous free-kicks and set-pieces against them. Meanwhile, Cliftonville's dedication was evident through the two yellow cards they received during the match, indicating a more combative style of play which they maintained without crossing into red card territory.

Coleraine did well to integrate their offensive strategies, as both teams' goals in the second half came from open play rather than set pieces. However, their efforts to dominate play were hampered by two crucial yellow cards, one especially in the high-pressure period of overtime, negatively impacting their momentum. The match pivoted dramatically towards the end, with Cliftonville equalising late in the second half, keeping their hope alive. Their endurance and mental fortitude were key in pushing the match to penalties.

In summary, the critical factors that influenced Cliftonville’s victory included their early goal to establish match dominance, effective corner kick utilization, disciplined defensive actions, and psychological resilience shown during the decisive phases of the match. Crucially, their ability to perform under penalty pressure ultimately sealed the result in their favour. This analysis serves as a compact insight into how specific statistical data and team performance dynamics converged to shape the outcome of this gripping fixture.

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