CRAWLEY, England (Interstat) — Crawley Town and Barnet opened their League Two campaigns with a 1-1 draw that was sparked by second-half substitutes in a physical contest Tuesday afternoon at Broadfield Stadium.

The match, which saw both teams finish with a man advantage after simultaneous late red cards, played out closely to the pregame projection from Interstat, which had forecast a 1-1 result. The data firm had also given Barnet a 56.7 percent probability of securing all three points, but the visitors were unable to capitalize on that slight favorite status.

The first half was a cagey, stop-start affair with few clear chances, reflected in a pair of yellow cards before the break. Barnet’s Ryan Glover was booked in the 21st minute for a foul, and Crawley defender Geraldo Bajrami saw yellow in first-half stoppage time.

The game ignited just before the hour mark. Barnet substitute Mark Shelton, who had entered the fray, broke the deadlock in the 56th minute. The goal was assisted by fellow substitute Idris Kanu, who provided the decisive pass to unlock the Crawley defense.

Crawley’s response was swift and also originated from its bench. Just two minutes after falling behind, the home side drew level. Forward Danilo Orsi-Dadamo found the net in the 58th minute, finishing off a buildup that involved substitute Nikola Tavares, who was credited with the assist.

The goal sparked a period of increased tension, with Tavares himself receiving a yellow card seconds after the restart. The physical nature of the match continued, as Barnet’s Kanu was booked in the 69th minute for a challenge.

Both managers continued to look to their benches for a winner, leading to a flurry of assists from substitutes. Barnet’s Rhys Browne, another second-half introduction, was shown a yellow card in the 88th minute as the game entered its frantic final stages.

The contest reached a boiling point in the 90th minute. In a moment of chaos, Crawley’s Ronan Darcy and Barnet’s Romoney Crichlow-Noble were both shown straight red cards following an altercation, leaving each side with 10 men for the brief remaining moments. Crichlow-Noble had earlier been involved in Barnet’s goal, earning an assist.

Despite seven minutes of stoppage time, neither side could find a winning goal. The result leaves both teams with identical records to start the League Two season: no wins, no losses and one draw. Their overall records across all competitions also mirror each other.

The shared points underscored a match defined by impactful substitutions. Beyond the goal-scorers, Barnet’s Shelton and Crawley’s Orsi-Dadamo, the assist sheet was filled by players who began the game on the bench: Kanu and Tavares for their respective teams, along with contributions from Glover and Browne. Bajrami, who started in defense for Crawley, also registered an assist in the draw.

The final whistle confirmed a stalemate, a fair reflection of a closely fought encounter that saw pregame projections hold true and both teams emerge with a point from their season opener.