ABERDEEN, Scotland (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of expectations, Motherwell LFC opened its Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 season with a dramatic 4-3 road victory over Aberdeen on Sunday, overcoming a significant pregame projection that heavily favored the hosts.

The match, played before a crowd at Balmoral Stadium, defied the statistical models of Interstat, which had simulated a 4-0 win for Aberdeen and gave the home side an 85.80 percent probability of victory.

Instead, it was the visiting side that seized early momentum. Substitute Keri Halliday, entering the fray to make an immediate impact, opened the scoring for Motherwell in the 19th minute. Aberdeen’s Hannah Stewart responded with an equalizer in the 30th minute, briefly restoring a sense of anticipated order.

The game turned decisively before halftime, however, as another Motherwell substitute, Carla Boyce, found the net in the 42nd minute to send the visitors into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Motherwell midfielder Bridget Galloway extended the advantage to 3-1 in the 55th minute, capitalizing on service from defender Jessica Broadrick, who recorded an assist on the play. Broadrick was later shown a yellow card in the 63rd minute.

Aberdeen refused to capitulate, mounting a fierce comeback attempt. Stewart struck again in the 71st minute, netting her second goal of the match to cut the deficit to 3-2 and ignite the home supporters.

The pivotal sequence arrived in a frantic three-minute span late in the second half. Boyce, the standout performer for Motherwell, completed her brace in the 85th minute, restoring a two-goal cushion at 4-2. Her three total goals on the afternoon proved to be the decisive individual contribution.

Aberdeen’s Abigail Tobin immediately answered in the 86th minute, setting up a tense finale at 4-3. Tobin’s involvement ended on a sour note, as she received a yellow card in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Motherwell’s defense held firm through the remaining moments to secure a memorable opening-day win. The result immediately alters the early SWPL 1 landscape, handing Aberdeen a defeat to start its campaign while providing Motherwell with a crucial away victory built on exceptional performances from its substitutes.

The victory gives Motherwell a record of 1 win and 0 losses in SWPL 1 play, with an identical mark across all competitions. Aberdeen begins its season with a record of 0 wins and 1 loss in both the league and overall.