LOKBATAN, Azerbaijan (Interstat) — Qaraba’g’ II secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Qaradag Lokbatan on Sunday, overcoming a halftime deficit with two second-half goals in a fiery Azerbaijan Birinci Dasta match at Lökbatan OIK stadionu.

The result, which defied pregame projections that heavily favored the home side, was sealed by a pair of second-half substitutes whose impactful performances turned the tide for the visiting squad.

The match began at a frantic pace, with both teams finding the net in a chaotic two-minute span early in the first half. David Choinière opened the scoring for the visitors in the 23rd minute, but the home side’s Gabriel Antinoro responded immediately, leveling the score just ten minutes later with a goal in the 33rd minute.

The game’s intensity boiled over moments after Antinoro’s equalizer, as Qaraba’g’ II’s Samuel Salter was shown a yellow card in the 32nd minute. The first half concluded with the teams deadlocked at 1-1.

The second half belonged to the substitutes. Samuel Salter, who had entered the match after halftime, put Qaraba’g’ II ahead for good with a goal in the 58th minute, completing the comeback.

The match grew increasingly fractious as it progressed. Nana Opoku Ampomah of Qaraba’g’ II received a yellow card in the 52nd minute. The tension culminated deep into stoppage time when both teams saw players booked, with Qaraba’g’ II’s Alberto Zapater and Qaradag Lokbatan’s Jassem Koleilat both receiving cautions in the 90th+10 minute.

The victory marks a significant achievement for Qaraba’g’ II, improving their record in the Birinci Dasta to one win and one loss this season. The win comes just two days after their first match of the campaign, a 1-0 victory over Energetik on Friday.

For Qaradag Lokbatan, the loss extends a difficult season. Their record in the competition now stands at five wins, 13 losses and five draws, leaving them near the bottom of the table. The result is particularly stinging given that pregame analytics from Interstat gave the home team a 76.4 percent probability of winning and projected a 1-1 draw.

Qaradag Lokbatan’s recent form has been a struggle, with the team managing only one win in their last several outings. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw with Neftçi II on Oct. 19. Prior to that, the club endured a string of losses and draws, including a 3-0 defeat to Qəbələ in May.

Qaraba’g’ II faces a quick turnaround, with their next match scheduled for Monday against Neftçi II. Qaradag Lokbatan will look to regroup and find a way to convert their statistical advantages into points on the field as their challenging season continues.