KOTYKIVKA, Ukraine (Interstat) — FK Probij Horodenka opened its Persha Liga season with a commanding 3-0 victory over Pod Khmelnytskyi on Friday at Probii Arena, defying a statistical projection that had forecast a much tighter contest.

The home side, fueled by a first-half brace from forward Andrii Fesenko, controlled the match from the outset and never looked back against a visiting Pod Khmelnytskyi squad that struggled to generate offense. The win gives Horodenka an immediate boost in the Ukrainian first league standings, while Pod Khmelnytskyi begins its campaign with a defeat.

The match’s opening goal arrived in the 17th minute. Fesenko found space in the penalty area and finished clinically, settling any early nerves for the hosts and establishing a tempo they would maintain throughout the half. Pod Khmelnytskyi failed to mount a significant response, and Fesenko struck again just before the interval. In the 48th minute, he doubled his tally and his team’s lead, capitalizing on another opportunity to send Horodenka into the break with a firm two-goal advantage.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Horodenka maintaining possession and pressure. The result was put beyond all doubt in the 77th minute when midfielder Bohdan Orynchak added a third goal. His strike sealed a comprehensive performance and capped the scoring at 3-0, securing all three points for the home team.

The final scoreline proved notably more lopsided than pregame analytics had suggested. According to Interstat, its game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw. The same service’s ELO rating system gave Horodenka a 56.7 percent probability of winning, indicating a slight favorite status but not anticipating such a dominant display.

With the result, Horodenka begins its Persha Liga season with a record of one win and zero losses, carrying that perfect mark across all competitions as well. For Pod Khmelnytskyi, the loss leaves them with a record of zero wins and one loss in both the league and overall to start the year.

The performance provides a strong foundation for Horodenka’s league aspirations, demonstrating an effective attack led by Fesenko’s sharp finishing. Pod Khmelnytskyi, meanwhile, will look to regroup defensively and find its offensive rhythm after being shut out in its season opener. Both teams continue their Persha Liga schedules next week.