ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Interstat) — A dramatic stoppage-time equalizer from substitute Anatole Abang salvaged a 1-1 draw for Al Bataeh CSC against Baniyas SCC in an Arabian Gulf League match Sunday at Baniyas Club Stadium.

The result, which played out exactly as projected by Interstat’s game simulator, left both teams with identical records to open their 2025-26 league campaigns: 0 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. Their overall records across all competitions also mirror each other at 0-0-1.

The match was a tale of two halves, defined by a first-half goal and a last-gasp reply. Baniyas, despite being projected by Interstat’s ELO system with a 72.8 percent probability to win, struggled to break down a disciplined Al Bataeh side for long periods.

The game’s first significant action was disciplinary, with Al Bataeh defender Mahamadou Camara receiving a yellow card in just the 5th minute. Baniyas manager Farhad Majidi was also booked in the 16th minute for dissent.

The home side’s breakthrough finally came in the 39th minute. The move was orchestrated by midfielder Otabek Shukurov, who provided the assist for forward Youssoufou Niakaté to finish calmly. The goal gave Baniyas a lead they would hold deep into second-half stoppage time.

Al Bataeh’s challenge was hampered by further bookings, with Shukurov shown a yellow card in the 76th minute. As the match entered its final moments, it appeared Baniyas would secure the three points predicted by the statistical models.

However, in the sixth minute of added time, Al Bataeh’s super-sub Anatole Abang delivered a pivotal moment. The forward, who had entered the match from the bench, found the net to stun the home crowd and secure a valuable away point for his team. The assist on the clutch goal came from Camara, the defender who had been booked early, redeeming his performance with a key contribution.

Abang’s celebration was short-lived, as he received a yellow card in the 89th minute, just moments before his heroic equalizer.

The draw represents a resilient start for Al Bataeh, who secured a point on the road against a favored opponent. For Baniyas, it will be viewed as two points dropped after controlling much of the match and failing to close out the victory. Both teams will look to secure their first win of the season in their next outings.