LA SPEZIA, Italy (Interstat) — Substitute Bryant Nieling scored just five minutes into the match and Ettore Gliozzi added another in second-half stoppage time to propel Modena to a 2-0 victory over Spezia in a Serie B match Saturday at Stadio Alberto Picco.

The result, defying pregame projections that heavily favored the hosts, saw Modena improve its league record to eight wins, five draws and three losses. Spezia’s struggles continued as it fell to three wins, six draws and seven losses in Serie B play.

The match was decisively shaped in its opening moments. Modena, the visiting side, stunned the home crowd with an immediate breakthrough. Nieling, entering the game as a substitute, found the net in the fifth minute to give his team an early advantage. The assist was credited to midfielder Filippo Bandinelli.

Spezia’s task grew exponentially more difficult in the 68th minute when defender Fellipe Jack received his second yellow card of the match, resulting in a red card and forcing the home side to play a man down for the final 20-plus minutes. Jack had been booked earlier in the 25th minute.

Despite being shorthanded, Spezia pressed for an equalizer but was unable to break through Modena’s defense. The match grew increasingly fractious as it wore on, with eight total yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. The tension culminated in a flurry of bookings in stoppage time, including yellows for Modena’s Francesco Zampano, Luca Magnino and Salvatore Esposito, and Spezia’s Daniel Tonoli.

Modena sealed the three points at the death. In the 90th minute, another substitute, Gliozzi, put the match beyond doubt with his team’s second goal. The assist was provided by Niklas Pyyhtiä, who also entered the match off the bench.

The victory provided a positive response for Modena following its 2-1 home loss to Catanzaro on Dec. 8. The club has now won two of its last three Serie B matches. For Spezia, the defeat halted a modest two-game winning streak in the league that included victories over Sampdoria and Virtus Entella. The home side has now failed to score in four of its 16 league matches this season.

Pregame analytics from Interstat heavily favored Spezia, giving the club a 69.70 percent probability to win and projecting a 1-1 draw. Modena’s performance, particularly its early goal and resilient defense while playing against 10 men, rendered those projections inaccurate.

Modena’s next match is at home against Venezia on Dec. 20 in Serie B action. Spezia will travel to face Frosinone on the same date.