ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Interstat) — In a match that defied pregame projections, Al Wahda FC and visiting Al Bataeh CSC played to a 2-2 draw in an Arabian Gulf League contest Thursday at Al Nahyan Stadium.

The result, which saw the visiting side fight back twice to secure a point, contradicted statistical forecasts that heavily favored the home club. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-0 victory for Al Wahda, while its ELO system gave Al Wahda an 82.70 percent probability to win.

Al Bataeh, the underdog, struck first against the run of play. Substitute Álvaro Felicíssimo, who had just entered the match, opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a left-footed finish, silencing the home supporters and giving the visitors an early advantage.

Al Wahda responded before halftime, leveling the score in the 43rd minute. Forward Omar Khribin found the net with a right-footed shot, sending the teams into the break tied 1-1.

The home side carried that momentum into the second half and took its first lead of the night in the 65th minute. Midfielder Abdulla Hamad put Al Wahda ahead 2-1 with another right-footed goal, a strike that seemed to set the stage for the predicted home victory.

Al Bataeh, however, displayed resilience. In the 77th minute, substitute Mohammad Juma Eid completed the scoring for the evening, netting a right-footed goal to equalize at 2-2. Eid’s impact was immediate and comprehensive, as he also recorded an assist on Felicíssimo’s opener for a goal and an assist off the bench.

The final quarter-hour of the match grew increasingly tense, with three yellow cards issued in a nine-minute span. Al Bataeh’s Neto, also a substitute, was booked in the 70th minute. The cautions continued around Eid’s equalizer, with Al Wahda’s Mohammad Ghorbani shown a yellow card in the 77th minute for the foul that led to the tying goal, and Eid himself booked in the 79th minute.

The draw leaves both teams with identical records to start their Arabian Gulf League campaigns. Each side now holds a record of 0 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw in the competition. The single point also mirrors their overall records across all competitions this season.

The match highlighted the impact of substitutions, with three of the four goals scored by players who began the game on the bench. Beyond the goal scorers, key contributors included Al Wahda’s Mohammad Ghorbani, who tallied an assist, and Al Bataeh’s Neto, who also recorded an assist before being cautioned.

The shared points represent a solid start on the road for Al Bataeh CSC against a favored opponent, while Al Wahda FC will rue missed opportunities to secure a victory after twice holding advantages in the match. Both clubs will look for their first win of the season when league play continues.