In the USL Championship matchup on July 8th, 2023, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds hosted Sacramento Republic FC. The game concluded with a goalless draw, but the outcome does not accurately reflect the match's competitive vigor.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the home team, suffered from indiscipline, collecting four yellow cards during the match compared to Sacramento's three. Notably, the bulk of these yellows (3 out of 4) were shown in the second half indicating a possible drop in concentration or discipline as the game progressed. The timing of these cards is critical as they occurred after the 75th minute, a point in the game where fatigue tends to set in, resulting in lapses in judgement.

The away team, on the other hand, received their yellow cards evenly between the two halves. They also handled the last quarter of the game more carefully as none of their bookings were made during the closing stages of the match.

What may have significantly affected the result were the respective teams' attacking set pieces. Sacramento Republic FC, despite being the away squad, won more corners than Pittsburgh Riverhounds, securing 6 opportunities compared to the home team’s 4. This suggests that Sacramento had a more aggressive game, pushing up the field more frequently and putting pressure on Pittsburgh's defence. However, these corners did not convert into goals, leaving the visitors without much to show for their territorial dominance.

Given the goalless draw, both sides had strong defensive displays, perhaps buoyed on by the fear of receiving additional cards, which the data clearly shows. Despite the disciplined defending, the data points out a lack of clinical finishing from both sides – a factor that would have most influenced the goalless outcome.

From an odds perspective, this match could have offered great value for those who bet on a low scoring game or a draw. Bettors who considered the discipline record of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds may have also found value in the yellow card markets, given they claimed 4 during the game.

In conclusion, the match between Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Sacramento Republic FC is a perfect illustration of disciplined defending, leading to a goalless standoff. Both teams were cautious not to commit mistakes to swoop a full point in a game where every attack made turned into a missed opportunity. The betting market which focusses on the discipline of the teams would have been met by this game’s events.

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