In a tightly contested Premier League Cup match, Charlton Athletic U21 edged out Preston North End U21 with a 2-1 victory, thanks to their resilient performance in the second half. Preston initially took the lead early in the second half, reflecting a strategic offensive push. However, Charlton's response was both swift and decisive, leveraging their superior set-piece opportunities to turn the game around. With six corner kicks compared to Preston's four, Charlton made effective use of these situations, eventually tipping the game in their favor.

The match saw a high level of physicality with a significant number of fouls—12 by Preston and 10 by Charlton. This physical play was mirrored in the distribution of yellow cards, with Charlton receiving three and Preston two, further indicating a hard-fought battle. Despite Charlton’s aggressive style leading to more yellow cards, they managed to maintain composure and discipline, avoiding any red cards which could have shifted the advantage. This tenacity was crucial, particularly in the latter stages of the match where Charlton’s decisive goal came at the 1:32:03 mark.

Statistically, Charlton demonstrated superior discipline in their defensive positioning, as evidenced by having just one offside call against them compared to Preston's two. This reflected their acute game awareness and ability to play a more controlled pace, preventing Preston from capitalizing on premature offensive maneuvers. Moreover, goalkeeper interventions played a vital role, with Charlton’s ability to capitalize on their shots on target proving to be a defining factor. Though data on specific numbers of shots on target and saves weren't provided, the result underscores Charlton's effectiveness in goal-scoring situations while managing defensive responsibilities efficiently.

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