ROTHERHAM, England (Interstat) — Substitute Tom Eaves scored a dramatic late winner as Rotherham United opened its League One campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Northampton Town on Tuesday afternoon at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The match, which defied a pregame projection of a draw by Interstat, was decided in the 84th minute. Eaves, who had entered the match in the second half, found the decisive touch to complete Rotherham’s rally after the home side had trailed for most of the contest.

Northampton Town struck first against the run of play in the 26th minute. A swift counterattack was finished by midfielder Emmanuel Adegboyega, giving the visiting side an early advantage. The goal momentarily silenced the home supporters and set up a defensive challenge for Rotherham.

The home side’s response was persistent but stymied until just before the hour mark. The equalizer arrived in the 58th minute, crafted by two of Rotherham’s key attackers. Forward Sam Nombe, who had been shown a yellow card earlier in the match, provided the assist for striker Harry Gray to slot home, leveling the score at 1-1 and reigniting the atmosphere in the stadium.

The game appeared headed for the projected draw as the clock wound down, but Rotherham found a late breakthrough. The winning sequence began with defender Joe Rafferty, who would later receive a yellow card in stoppage time, pushing forward from the back. His service into the box was met by Eaves, who directed his shot past the Northampton goalkeeper to send the home fans into celebration.

The result provided a stark contrast to the pregame analytics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 final score, while its ELO rating system gave Rotherham a 56.90 percent probability to win outright. The Millers ultimately validated that win probability with their second-half performance.

The physical nature of the match was reflected in the officiating. Three yellow cards were issued, with Rotherham’s Nombe booked in the 28th minute and Gray cautioned in the 46th. Rafferty’s late foul in the second minute of added time rounded out the disciplinary actions.

With the victory, Rotherham United begins its League One season with a perfect record of one win and no losses, both in the league and across all competitions. For Northampton Town, the narrow defeat marks an 0-1 start to its campaign in League One and overall for the season. The teams will look to build on these results as the third-tier football season in England continues.