The international friendly match played on 26th March 2024, at 19:45 EEST saw Scotland playing host to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland managed to pull out a slim victory with a score of 1-0. Based on the statistical data collated, this coverage will provide an in-depth analysis of the significant factors influencing the game's outcome.

The Away team, Northern Ireland, scored the solitary goal of the match in the first half, precisely at 32:02. This goal proved decisive, highlighting vigilant and prompt finishing in the attacking third. It's noteworthy that despite being under pressure from the home side, they maintained their composure to put the ball in the back of the net, ultimately, winning the game.

Delving into the game's physical and disciplinary aspects, Northern Ireland received their only yellow card at 20:57 in the first half, before Scotland whose solitary yellow card came at 54:51 in the second half. Despite committing nearly double the fouls of the home team (12 fouls to Scotland's 6), Northern Ireland successfully stifled Scotland's attacking forays, notably their discipline did not result in any red cards.

Evaluating the set-piece play, Scotland dominated the corner kicks with seven compared to just one corner kick by Northern Ireland. This suggests Scotland created more chances from set-piece situations, but Northern Ireland's defense, or possibly Scotland's poor execution, proved insurmountable.

Another aspect to consider is the offsides committed by both teams, with Scotland being caught offside four times compared to Northern Ireland's three. This signifies that both teams adopted a high line of defense, successfully catching the opposing team's attackers offside. However, Scotland's higher offsides indicate a lack of attacking discipline that could have inhibited their scoring opportunities.

Overall, in spite of Scotland's statistical dominance in corner kicks and fewer fouls, Northern Ireland's solitary goal and disciplined defense were decisive factors in the match outcome. Their ability to maintain a clean sheet, despite the pressure of numerous set-piece situations, highlights their superior tactical discipline and defensive resilience. Alternatively, Scotland's lack of goal conversion, despite their chances, resulted in their defeat—a trend that they'll likely want to rectify in upcoming matches.

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