In the Olympic Games fixture on 27 July 2024, Japan U23 secured a 1-0 victory over Mali U23. The crucial goal was netted just over 80 minutes into the match, showcasing Japan's persistence and efficiency in the closing stages. Despite a seemingly balanced encounter, Japan managed to capitalize on their opportunities while maintaining a rather disciplined defense.

Japan U23's performance was marked by effective use of their five corner kicks, although these did not directly result in the winning goal. Their ability to create pressure from set-pieces could have contributed to unnerving the Mali U23 defense. On the other hand, Mali U23 had an edge in corner kicks with six, yet failed to convert any of these chances into goals, indicating a lack of precision in set-piece execution.

Disciplinary actions were moderately distributed, with Japan accumulating two yellow cards in the first half and Mali receiving one in the second half. This suggests a relatively clean yet cautious gameplay from both sides. Japan's midfielders and defenders managed to maintain their composure to avoid further infractions, which might have disrupted their strategic setup or led to a numerical disadvantage.

Mali's inability to score despite having a similar number of corner kicks and presumably competitive possession stats signifies a crucial difference in attacking execution. The final conversion by Japan, combined with their disciplined defense and efficient set-piece utilization, were the deciding factors in this tightly contested match. Their ability to maintain focus and capitalize on late opportunities ultimately secured their victory.

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