HAUGESUND, Norway (Interstat) — Substitute Leo Cornic scored two second-half goals to complete a stunning comeback for Tromso in a 3-2 victory over FK Haugesund in the Eliteserien on Sunday at Haugesund Stadion.

The match, the season opener for both clubs in Norway’s top-flight league, defied pregame projections. Interstat’s ELO system had given the home side a 72 percent probability of victory, while its game simulator predicted a 3-1 win for the visitors. The actual result was a narrow, hard-fought win for Tromso, secured by a player who began the match on the bench.

The home team started brightly and was rewarded in the 23rd minute when forward Emil Schlichting opened the scoring, giving FK Haugesund an early lead they would carry for much of the first half.

The momentum shifted dramatically just before halftime. Tromso’s Niko Hämäläinen, a midfielder, leveled the score with a goal in the 36th minute. Just seven minutes later, Cornic, who had been substituted into the match, netted his first of the day to give Tromso a 2-1 lead heading into the break.

Cornic was not finished. Shortly after the restart, in the 51st minute, he found the net again, extending Tromso’s lead to 3-1 and completing his brace. His two-goal performance was the decisive factor in the match.

FK Haugesund refused to capitulate and pulled a goal back in the 76th minute through substitute Ieltsin Camões, setting up a tense finale. Despite late pressure from the hosts, Tromso’s defense held firm to secure the three points.

The match was a physical affair, with five yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. Tromso’s Miika Koskela was the first player booked in the 35th minute. The second half saw four cautions: Tromso’s Vetle Skjærvik (61st minute), Pyry Hannola (72nd minute), and Parfait Bizoza (76th minute), alongside FK Haugesund’s Jens Hjertø-Dahl (75th minute).

Statistically, the game was a showcase for the substitutes. Beyond Cornic’s two goals for Tromso, his teammate Vetle Skjærvik recorded an assist after coming off the bench. For FK Haugesund, Ieltsin Camões’s consolation goal also came after he was introduced as a substitute. Key contributions also came from midfielders, with Tromso’ Niko Hämäläinen scoring a goal and Miika Koskela notching an assist, while FK Haugesund’s Pyry Hannola and Parfait Bizoza each registered an assist.

The result gives Tromso a winning start to their Eliteserien campaign, though their league record remains unblemished at 0-0 due to this being their first match. Their overall season record across all competitions improves to one win and no losses, having also defeated Kristiansund U19 2-1 in a match on Sept. 24.

For FK Haugesund, the loss marks a disappointing beginning to their league season, leaving them with a record of 0-0 in the Eliteserien. Their overall record across all competitions now stands at 0-1, following a 4-1 defeat to Rosenborg in another match on Sept. 24.

The victory provides Tromso with significant early momentum as they navigate the opening phase of the Eliteserien season, while FK Haugesund will look to regroup after a home opener that saw a pregame favorite fall to a resilient visiting side.