MIDDLESBROUGH, England (Interstat) — Portsmouth opened its English Football League Championship season with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday, April 11, 2026, defying statistical projections with a stoppage-time winner at Riverside Stadium.

The match appeared destined for a scoreless draw until Portsmouth’s Conor Chaplin scored in the seventh minute of added time, securing all three points for the visitors. The result spoiled Middlesbrough’s home opener in front of a crowd of 30,112 in Yorkshire.

The defeat was a surprise after analytics firm Interstat gave Middlesbrough a nearly 80 percent probability to win and projected a 2-1 final score in its favor. The physical contest featured six yellow cards, including five in the tense final minutes following the decisive goal.

With the result, Portsmouth begins its league campaign with a win, while Middlesbrough starts with a loss.