MIDDLESBROUGH, England (Interstat) — Middlesbrough opened its English Football League Championship season with a 2-1 comeback victory over Derby County on Saturday at Riverside Stadium, overcoming an early deficit with two goals in the final 15 minutes.

The match, a season opener for both clubs, was ultimately decided by defenders, with Matt Targett’s 75th-minute strike completing the turnaround for the home side after Derby’s Patrick Agyemang had stunned the home crowd inside the first two minutes of play.

The contest defied the pregame projections from Interstat, which had given Middlesbrough a 65.5 percent probability to win and had simulated a 1-1 draw. Instead, the home side secured a full three points to begin its league campaign.

Derby County, newly promoted to the Championship, announced its intent immediately. Just two minutes after the opening whistle, substitute Patrick Agyemang found the back of the net to give the visitors a shocking early lead. The goal set a defensive tone for Derby, which spent much of the first half absorbing pressure from Middlesbrough.

The physical nature of the match began to show in the booking tally. Middlesbrough’s Bobby Clark was shown a yellow card in the 22nd minute, and Derby’s Callum Elder received one in the 67th minute as the intensity ramped up.

Middlesbrough’s persistence finally paid off in the 75th minute. The equalizer came from an unlikely source, as defender Matt Targett surged forward to score and level the match at 1-1. The assist on the crucial goal was credited to Callum Elder, who had been cautioned just eight minutes prior.

The home side’s momentum proved unstoppable, and the winner arrived just nine minutes later. In the 84th minute, Morgan Whittaker secured the victory for Middlesbrough with his first goal of the season, finishing an assist from Bobby Clark, who had also been booked earlier in the match.

The result leaves the two teams with divergent starts to the season. Middlesbrough begins its Championship campaign with a victory, moving its record to one win and zero losses both in the league and across all competitions. For Derby County, the defeat marks a challenging start to life back in the second tier, as the club opens with a record of zero wins and one loss in the Championship and in all competitions.

The match highlighted the impact of substitutes, with Derby’s early scorer, Agyemang, and Middlesbrough’s assist provider, Clark, both entering the game from the bench. The comeback victory provides a positive foundation for Middlesbrough’s season, while Derby will look to regroup after letting a valuable away point slip from its grasp in the closing stages.