With a scoreline of 1-0 favoring Al Rustaq SC against Al Ittihad Salalah in the Professional League match held on April 3, 2023, the main difference on the pitch was the goal scored in the first half at just two minutes' mark by the away team. This would certainly come as a shock to Al Ittihad, affecting their game plan significantly.

Until this match, both the teams have been fairly balanced in terms of their on-field discipline. The match saw an equal number of yellows drawed for both teams with Al Ittihad Salalah receiving their yellow cards mostly during the second half (2 out of 3) while Al Rustaq SC received all 3 of their cards in the same split across both the halves. This increase in the intensity of the game can be observed due to the pressure that was mounted on Al Ittihad Salalah to equalize the goal in the second half. Despite this, they maintained a similar offensive and defensive strategy with Al Rustaq SC, as both teams committed 2 fouls and were caught once in an offside position.

From a strategic perspective, both teams had an equal number of corner kicks (4 each), indicating a balance in terms of shots created. Nevertheless, the home team Al Ittihad Salalah couldn't capitalize on their opportunities which ultimately was one of the determinants of the outcome of this match.

The early goal by Al Rustaq SC indeed played a massive role in dictating the tempo and the complexion of the game. Contrary to usual, Al Ittihad Salalah, despite being the home team, were playing catch up for the rest of the game, which incredibly indicates the efficiency and solidity of Al Rustaq SC's defensive line.

In conclusion, it's pivotal to note that while the stats illustrate a balanced match in terms of key performance parameters, the early goal for Al Rustaq SC essentially shifted the dynamics of the match, forcing Al Ittihad Salalah in a trailing position for the majority of the encounter. This resulted in the win for the away team, despite Al Ittihad's attempts to grasp control of the match. This goes to highlight the importance of a good start in any football encounter, which was effectively utilized by Al Rustaq SC.

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