BIJELO BRDO, Croatia (Interstat) — Defying pre-match projections, NK Slaven Belupo delivered a commanding performance to oust lower-tier side Bijelo Brdo 3-0 on Wednesday in the opening round of the Cup in Croatia.

The match, held at Stadion BSK, was turned on its head just seven minutes in when Slaven Belupo’s Andrija Filipović found the net, setting an early tone that contradicted statistical forecasts. The visitors from Koprivnica then methodically dismantled their hosts, adding a second-half goal from Josip Mitrović and a stoppage-time strike from Mihail Caimacov to seal the comprehensive victory.

The result was a significant upset based on the metrics from Interstat, whose ELO system had given Bijelo Brdo, the home side, a 68.60 percent probability of advancing. Furthermore, the organization’s game simulator had predicted a far closer contest, projecting a 2-0 win for Slaven Belupo, a scoreline the actual result comfortably surpassed.

From the opening whistle, Slaven Belupo displayed an intent that belied their underdog status according to the data. The crucial early breakthrough came from Filipović, whose finish in the 7th minute immediately shifted pressure onto the home squad. The goal forced Bijelo Brdo to chase the game, a scenario that played into the hands of the more experienced top-flight side.

The first half concluded with the single-goal advantage, but Slaven Belupo’s control of the match was rarely in doubt. Any hopes of a Bijelo Brdo comeback were effectively extinguished ten minutes after the restart. In the 55th minute, Josip Mitrović doubled the lead, providing his team with a cushion that allowed them to manage the contest with growing confidence.

As the match entered its final moments, Slaven Belupo cemented their dominance. Deep into added time, in the 93rd minute, Mihail Caimacov put the final exclamation point on the performance, driving home the third goal to complete the 3-0 rout. The scoreline accurately reflected Slaven Belupo’s superior execution on the night.

With the win, NK Slaven Belupo begins its campaign in the domestic cup with a perfect record, moving to 1 win and 0 losses in the competition. The victory also marks a positive start to their overall season, moving to 1-0 across all contests. For Bijelo Brdo, the loss is a disappointing start to their Cup ambitions and the broader season, as they fall to 0-1 in both the tournament and all competitions combined.

The emphatic nature of the victory will provide a significant morale boost for Slaven Belupo as they progress to the next round, having convincingly cleared a hurdle that many statistical models had suggested would be their downfall. For Bijelo Brdo, the defeat serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that come with facing higher-division opposition, regardless of pre-game probabilities.