In the NIFL Premiership match on November 19, 2023, the FC Carrick Rangers fell to Cliftonville in a result more definitive than the 3-0 scoreline might suggest. A thorough examination of the data will provide a clearer picture of what transpired on the pitch.

Interestingly, despite losing, the Carrick Rangers had the edge in corner kicks, earning 4 to Cliftonville's 0. However, this advantage came to naught as the home team failed to capitalize on these opportunities, yielding no goals from these rare chances.

A telling statistic comes from the fouls and yellow cards. Cliftonville committed more fouls (17 compared to Carrick Rangers' 13), but this did not result in a numerical disadvantage, as both teams retained all players on the pitch. This could imply that Cliftonville's fouls disrupted Carrick Rangers' rhythm and flow. Notably, the timing of the yellow cards also coincides with significant moments in the match. Two of Cliftonville's yellow cards were issued just after their second and third goals, perhaps suggesting a more aggressive or careful style of play at crucial points in the game.

Possibly, the home team's inability to produce offsides against Cliftonville signifies a lack of defensive pressure. Cliftonville had only one offside for the entire match, indicating a high level of discipline in their attack or a lack of an effective offside trap set by the Carrick Rangers.

Significantly, the timing of Cliftonville's goals, especially the first one that occurred only about 16 minutes into the game, put the away team in a favorable position early on. Their subsequent goals in the second half (at approximately 68 and 83 minutes) only served to add insurance to their lead.

Three key points are in play: The critical timing of Cliftonville's goals, the disruptive effect of fouls by both teams (even though neither side received a red card), and a notable ineffectiveness of the home team to turn their corner kicks into scoring opportunities. The data suggests that Cliftonville's win can be attributed to their strategic aggression and defensive discipline, which were key differentiators in their superior performance over FC Carrick Rangers.

Ultimately, the ability to take advantage of opportunities (like converting early chances into goals) while efficiently handling pressure (evidenced by limited offsides and effective foul play) proved crucial for Cliftonville in this encounter.

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