In this closely contested match, Everton U21 emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win against Middlesbrough U21. The pivotal moment came just before the 60-minute mark, as Everton managed to break the deadlock with a crucial goal in the second half. Statistically, Everton had a slight advantage in the number of corner kicks, taking seven compared to Middlesbrough’s five, which may have indicated a more aggressive attacking approach from the away side. This was further evidenced by their slightly greater number of offsides, reflecting their intent to push forward and break the Middlesbrough defensive lines.

Discipline was a notable issue throughout the match, with both sides accruing a considerable number of fouls; Middlesbrough committed 13, while Everton committed 15. The high foul count resulted in multiple yellow cards. Middlesbrough received three yellow cards, two of which were within minutes of each other in the 93rd minute, while Everton was issued two. Such levels of aggression disrupted the flow of the game and may have impacted Middlesbrough’s ability to build sustained attacking plays, as seen in their failure to score.

Neither team managed to capitalize on set-piece opportunities effectively, as the match statistics show no goals coming from corner kick situations despite the number of opportunities each team had. This inefficiency highlights an area for improvement in turning dead-ball situations into scoring chances, especially for Middlesbrough, who struggled to convert their limited shots into goals. Overall, Everton's slightly better utilization of their chances and their ability to maintain defensive discipline under pressure were decisive factors in this tightly-fought encounter.

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