PLYMOUTH, England (Interstat) — Aribim Pepple scored twice and Connor Hall added a goal and an assist to lead Plymouth Argyle to a 2-1 victory over Port Vale on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in the League One season opener at Home Park.

Pepple, a forward, opened the scoring in the third minute, collecting a pass in the box and slotting home to give the home side an early lead. The strike came just minutes after Port Vale goalkeeper Conor Hazard was sent off with a red card in the fifth minute, forcing the visitors to play the remainder of the match a man down. Port Vale’s defense, already under pressure, could not contain Plymouth’s attack.

Hall, a substitute, equalized for Port Vale in the 14th minute with a well-placed finish off an assist from Owen Dale, but Plymouth responded swiftly. Pepple netted his second goal of the match in the 47th minute, again finding space in the penalty area, to restore Plymouth’s lead. Hall also provided an assist for Pepple’s second goal, part of a productive afternoon off the bench.

The first half saw a flurry of bookings. Ethon Archer was shown a yellow card in the 16th minute, followed by Connor Hall in the 25th minute. Owen Dale received a yellow in the 64th minute, and Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu was booked in the 82nd minute. Despite the cautions, Plymouth maintained control of the tempo and possession.

Plymouth’s defense, anchored by Sarpong-Wiredu who also contributed an assist, limited Port Vale’s chances after the early red card. Port Vale managed only a handful of attempts on goal, most of which were dealt with comfortably by Plymouth’s back line. Ethon Archer also recorded an assist for Plymouth, further showcasing the depth of the home side’s attack.

The victory gave Plymouth a 1-0 record in League One and across all competitions, while Port Vale fell to 0-1 in both the league and overall. The match was the first of the season for both sides, and Plymouth’s performance suggested a strong start to the campaign.

The game had been projected by Interstat’s game simulator to finish as a 1-1 draw, but Plymouth’s early advantage after the red card proved decisive. Interstat’s ELO system had given Plymouth an 83.70 percent probability to win, and the result aligned with the statistical favorite’s expected outcome.