In this thrilling Central American and Caribbean Under-23s match between Costa Rica and El Salvador, the confident strategy of Costa Rica emerged as the decisive factor as they sealed a 2-1 victory, despite the data suggesting a far more comprehensive performance from El Salvador.

Looking at the total number of goals scored, Costa Rica took their chances brilliantly, scoring 2 goals from a meagre 1 corner kick opportunity, demonstrating spectacular efficiency. Their goals came at crucial phases – one at the early stage of the first half and the second, just three minutes into the second half. These goals helped decide the pace and rhythm of the game, putting them always one step ahead of their challengers.

El Salvador's valiant effort to come back from a 2-0 deficit was visible as they dominated over Costa Rica in terms of corner kicks with a significant 8-1 lead, exposing Costa Rica's shakier defensive side. However, they could only manage to convert one of their numerous set-piece opportunities in the 73rd minute of the game - a late effort that wasn't enough to turn the tide.

The game saw a high number of fouls being committed with a combined total of 10 yellow cards, with Costa Rica receiving 6 and El Salvador 4. The discipline of both teams, especially Costa Rica, was tested on multiple occasions. These frequent stoppages due to fouls may have disrupted both teams' flow and made it harder for El Salvador to gather momentum for a comeback.

In terms of offsides, Costa Rica registered 3 compared to El Salvador’s 1. This indicates that Costa Rica was trying to utilise a higher defensive line and put pressure on the opposition, while El Salvador were more successful in timing their attacking runs to stay onside.

Overall, despite the statistical dominance of El Salvador, Costa Rica’s superior conversion of its opportunities and the capacity to maintain their lead under pressure proved critical in deciding the match. The young Costa Rican team’s performance reiterates the great truth of football – it’s not about how much of the ball you have, but what you do with it.

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