VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Interstat) — Rotor Volgograd opened its FNL 2 season with a 3-2 win over Biolog on Saturday at Volgograd Arena, powered by a two-goal performance from defender Sergey Obivalin.

Obivalin scored in the 41st and 48th minutes, bookending a 44th-minute strike from teammate Yuri Zavezen to give the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead early in the second half. Biolog mounted a late comeback with two unanswered goals but fell short.

The result gave Rotor Volgograd a winning start in league play, improving its record to 1-0. Biolog fell to 0-2. The outcome defied a pregame projection from Interstat, which had simulated a 1-1 draw despite favoring Rotor Volgograd with a 73 percent win probability. Zavezen received a yellow card for Rotor Volgograd in the victory.