POTENZA, Italy (Interstat) — In a Swiss 1. Liga Classic match played at a neutral site, Wetts-Bonstetten opened its season with a 2-1 victory over Tuggen on Saturday, overcoming an early deficit with a quick response just before halftime.

The Week 23 fixture, part of Switzerland’s fourth-tier league, was contested at Stadio Comunale Alfredo Viviani in Potenza, Italy, rather than at either club’s home ground. The match defied a pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had forecast a 1-1 draw. The same analytics system gave Wetts-Bonstetten a 56.20 percent probability to win.

Tuggen, the visiting side for the administrative purpose of the fixture, struck first against the run of play. In the 42nd minute, Marco Bevilacqua found the net to give his team an unexpected lead heading toward the interval.

That advantage was stunningly short-lived. Wetts-Bonstetten, the designated home team, responded almost immediately from the restart. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Antonio Sabbatani equalized with a goal in the 45th plus first minute, sending the teams into the break level at 1-1 and dramatically shifting the momentum.

The second half saw Wetts-Bonstetten maintain control and pressure, but a decisive breakthrough proved elusive until the final minutes. Defender Kurt Shaw emerged as the unlikely hero for Wetts-Bonstetten, scoring the game-winning goal in the 87th minute. His late strike secured all three points for his side and condemned Tuggen to a season-opening defeat.

The result sets an early tone for the clubs in the 1. Liga Classic campaign. Wetts-Bonstetten begins its season with a win, moving its record in the competition to one win and no losses. Tuggen starts with a loss, its record now standing at no wins and one loss. The records across all competitions for both clubs are identical to their league marks.

The neutral venue in southern Italy provided an unusual backdrop for the domestic Swiss league contest. The 1. Liga Classic is divided into multiple regional groups, and this match was a fixture in one of those groups. The use of Stadio Comunale Alfredo Viviani was not explained in the official match data.

Wetts-Bonstetten’s ability to recover instantly from conceding and to find a late winner demonstrated a resilience that exceeded statistical expectations. Tuggen, meanwhile, will rue its inability to hold onto its lead even until halftime, a collapse that ultimately defined the match’s outcome. Both teams continue their 1. Liga Classic schedules next week.