In this tight Serie D encounter, Santa Cruz PE managed to edge CS Sergipe with a 2-1 victory. The early goal from Santa Cruz PE, coming just 97 seconds into the match, set the tone and allowed the home team to control the tempo for much of the first half. CS Sergipe struggled to respond effectively, with their attempts at breaking down Santa Cruz's defense falling short, evidenced by their first-half shot accuracy. The quick lead granted Santa Cruz the opportunity to implement a strategic defensive approach, limiting Sergipe’s immediate impact.

Santa Cruz extended their lead early in the second half, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by CS Sergipe. This goal seemed to galvanize the home team's confidence, allowing them to maintain higher possession and better positioning throughout. Sergipe, despite their efforts, could only convert one of their three corner kick opportunities into a meaningful threat, underscoring a lack of sharpness in set-piece situations. Their lone goal came at a critical juncture but failed to build momentum due to Santa Cruz’s robust defensive organization.

The match was heavily punctuated by disciplined fouls, with a total of ten yellow cards being distributed, four more against CS Sergipe than Santa Cruz. The frequent interruptions might have disrupted the flow of play, particularly harming CS Sergipe's attempts to equalize. The latter struggled to maintain discipline, resulting in six yellow cards in the second half alone, which undoubtedly hampered their ability to press effectively without risking a sending-off.

Shots on target and goalkeeper saves weren’t highlighted as a specific statistical factor here, but the number of fouls and yellow cards certainly impacted CS Sergipe’s capacity to play fluidly. Their multiple infractions contributed to stoppages that prevented building sustained pressure on Santa Cruz. In the end, the teamwork and cohesion displayed by Santa Cruz PE, coupled with a precise counter-attacking strategy, proved decisive against a Sergipe side that faltered in key moments due to indiscipline and inefficiency in goal-scoring positions.

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