JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Interstat) — In a chaotic and dramatic AFC Champions League match that defied pregame projections, Miami FC and the Charleston Battery played to a 3-3 draw Thursday at The Hall Stadium at King Abdullah Sports City.

The match, organized under the USA-USL umbrella for Week 4 of the continental competition, featured a flurry of late goals and key performances from substitutes, overturning what had appeared to be a comfortable Charleston lead.

Charleston Battery struck first and quickly. In the sixth minute, forward Rafa Mújica opened the scoring with a right-footed finish. Miami FC responded before the half-hour mark, with substitute Yūya Ōsako leveling the score in the 24th minute with a headed goal.

The second half began explosively, with three goals in a nine-minute span. Mújica restored Charleston’s lead in the 61st minute, notching his second goal of the afternoon with another right-footed shot. Miami’s equalizer came just four minutes later, as forward Roberto Firmino scored with his right foot in the 65th minute. Charleston retook the lead almost immediately, with substitute Yōsuke Ideguchi making it 3-2 in the 74th minute with a right-footed strike.

As the match entered second-half stoppage time, Miami FC found a final equalizer. Substitute Yoshinori Mutō headed home in the third added minute to secure a dramatic point for the home side, ending the game at 3-3.

The result contradicted the pregame analytics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a low-scoring 1-0 victory for Charleston Battery, while its ELO rating system gave Miami FC a 61.20 percent probability to win.

Beyond the late drama, the match was notable for several individual performances. For Charleston, Mújica’s two-goal outing led the way, while attackers Nicholas Markanich and Matthew Dyan Myers also found the net. Arturo Rodríguez provided an assist for the Battery.

For Miami, the substitutes made a decisive impact. In addition to the crucial goals from Ōsako and Mutō, Ideguchi also scored. Allen Gavilanes played the full 90 minutes in midfield for Miami, scoring a goal and receiving a yellow card. Shūichi Gonda, also entering as a substitute, recorded an assist.

The physical match saw four yellow cards issued. Miami’s Nicolás Javier Cardona Ruiz was booked in the 53rd minute, followed by Charleston’s Chris Allan in the 58th. Miami’s Gavilanes received his caution in the 63rd minute, and a late card was shown to Charleston’s Gonda in the 108th minute, a notation that suggests extraordinary stoppage time was played.

The draw leaves both teams seeking their first win in the AFC Champions League group stage. Charleston Battery’s record in the competition now stands at one win, one draw and no losses. Miami FC’s tournament record is now no wins, one loss and one draw. Across all competitions this season, Charleston is one win, no losses and one draw, while Miami is no wins, one loss and one draw.

The match was staged at a neutral venue in Saudi Arabia, with Miami FC designated as the home team.