In the NIFL Premiership match held on the 20th February 2024, we saw a robust and dominant performance from Linfield FC as they convincingly defeated Cliftonville with a 3-0 scoreline.

Let's dig into the statistical factors to understand the teams' performance. All three goals for Linfield FC were scored in the second half within a space of 22 minutes, demonstrating a surge of power and strategy that Cliftonville could not contain. The first goal was netted at the 53rd minute, second at the 63rd minute, and the third was scored around the 75th minute. This momentum in the second half was undoubtedly a key factor that tipped the scale in Linfield's favor.

In terms of discipline, Linfield FC picked up more yellow cards than Cliftonville, four versus the home team's two. This might indicate a more aggressive approach from the away team, which could, on the one hand, be a driving factor behind their goal-scoring spree in the second half, and on the other hand, be a potential risk given that this kind of behavior could have easily led to a red card.

Analyzing the set-piece scenario, the teams were quite evenly matched with Linfield having just one more corner kick than Cliftonville. However, it seems that Linfield was more successful at capitalizing on these opportunities, which perhaps speak volumes about their precision and efficiency. Interestingly, Linfield was caught offside twice in the game, showing their eagerness to press the Cliftonville backline and take risks in the final third.

In the end, Cliftonville didn't manage to get a single shot on target. Despite having fewer yellow cards, this does indicate a lack of aggression or simply a solid defense presentation from Linfield FC that successfully blunted Cliftonville's forwards.

In conclusion, Linfield FC's second-half performance and effective use of set-pieces, along with their fearless attacking approach (despite the offsides), majorly determined the outcome of the match. Despite their more disciplined showing, Cliftonville's inability to create valuable chances was evidently their downfall in this match up. This deep data breakdown provides a nuanced understanding, aiding football bettors in future predictions involving these two teams.

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