NORWICH, England (Interstat) — Stoke City opened its Championship campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Norwich City on Sunday, defying pre-match projections with a late flurry of goals from substitutes at Carrow Road.

In a match that was largely a defensive stalemate for over an hour, the visitors found a breakthrough in the 75th minute and sealed the win seven minutes later, capitalizing decisively in the final quarter of the game. The result immediately inverts the preseason expectations set by statistical analysts, as Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw and gave Norwich a 55.4 percent probability of winning based on its ELO rating system.

The first half and much of the second were characterized by tight midfield battles and few clear chances. Norwich, playing at home, struggled to break down a disciplined Stoke defense, while the visitors offered little sustained threat in attack. The physical tone of the match was set early, with Stoke’s Mohammed Lawal receiving a yellow card in the 25th minute.

The game’s complexion changed dramatically after the introduction of Stoke’s substitutes. The deadlock was broken by Sam Gallagher, who had entered the match from the bench. In the 75th minute, Gallagher finished a move to give Stoke a 1-0 lead. The assist was credited to fellow substitute Ben Pearson, who was shown a yellow card just three minutes prior to his key contribution.

Stoke quickly compounded Norwich’s misery. Just seven minutes after the opening goal, another substitute, Sorba Thomas, found the net to double the advantage in the 82nd minute. The assist on the insurance goal came from midfielder Kellen Fisher, who would later receive a yellow card in the 85th minute as the match grew increasingly fractious with the result beyond doubt.

Norwich failed to mount any significant response, leaving its home supporters disappointed as the final whistle confirmed a season-opening defeat. The Canaries’ attack was muted throughout, failing to convert any of their limited opportunities against a resolute Stoke back line.

With the victory, Stoke City begins its Championship season with a perfect record of one win and no losses, earning a valuable three points on the road. Norwich City starts its campaign in the opposite fashion, with zero wins and one loss. The records for both clubs are identical across all competitions for the new season.

The match underscored the impact of effective squad depth, with Stoke’s manager seeing his tactical changes pay immediate dividends. All four direct goal contributions—two goals and two assists—came from players who began the game on the bench, highlighting a decisive advantage in the latter stages. For Norwich, the defeat at Carrow Road poses early questions about its offensive potency as it looks to rebound in the long Championship season ahead.