ISTANBUL (Interstat) — Pendikspor opened its 1. Lig campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over visiting Sariyer on Sunday, defying a statistical projection that had forecast a draw.

The match, played before a home crowd at Pendik Stadyumu, was effectively decided within the first 20 minutes as the hosts struck twice to establish an insurmountable lead. The early offensive surge rendered most of the second half a formality and handed Sariyer a defeat to start its season.

Pendikspor’s new forward, Jonson Clarke-Harris, made an immediate impact by opening the scoring in just the fourth minute. The early goal settled the home side and put Sariyer under immediate pressure. The advantage was doubled 15 minutes later when midfielder Đorđe Denić found the net in the 19th minute, capitalizing on the visitors’ disarray.

The two-goal cushion allowed Pendikspor to manage the game comfortably for the remaining 70 minutes. Sariyer, unable to mount a sustained threat, finished the match without a goal, seeing its record in the Turkish second division fall to 0-1. Pendikspor begins the season 1-0.

The statistical service Interstat had simulated a 1-1 draw for the contest and gave Pendikspor a 59.8 percent probability of winning outright. The home side’s performance exceeded those expectations with a more decisive result.

While the scoring was concentrated early, the match grew increasingly fractious as it progressed. A total of nine yellow cards were issued by the officiating crew, with only one shown in the first half. The second half saw a flurry of eight cautions between the 78th and 90th minutes, indicating a match that grew testy as the outcome became clear.

The victory provides a positive start for Pendikspor under the structure of the 1. Lig, which organizes the competition. The club’s overall record across all tournaments this season now stands at 1-0, while Sariyer drops to 0-1 in all competitions.

Pendikspor will look to build on the momentum of this opening win in its next league fixture, while Sariyer must regroup to find its first positive result of the young season.