DUBIYAH, United Arab Emirates (Interstat) — Nicolás Giménez’s first-half strike proved decisive as Al Wasl SC secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Al Bataeh CSC in an Arabian Gulf League match Saturday at Zabeel Stadium. The contest, however, was marred by a pair of late red cards that disrupted the flow of the game.

The only goal arrived in the 34th minute, a product of fluid attacking play from the hosts. Defender Hugo initiated the move, finding forward Brahian Palacios, who then combined with fellow forward Renato Júnior. The final pass fell to midfielder Giménez, who finished clinically to give Al Wasl a lead it would not relinquish.

The match was a physical affair from the outset. Al Wasl’s Palacios received the first booking in the 15th minute, and his teammate Renato Júnior was cautioned in second-half stoppage time of the first period. Al Bataeh’s Hugo was also shown a yellow card in the 66th minute as the visitors pressed for an equalizer.

The tension culminated in two dismissals within a ten-minute span. Al Wasl’s Ali Saleh was sent off in the 74th minute, forcing his side to play a man down. Al Bataeh, however, failed to capitalize on the numerical advantage. Instead, their task became harder when Álvaro Felicíssimo was shown a straight red card in the 84th minute, leaving both teams with ten men for the frantic final moments. Al Wasl’s organized defense held firm through eight minutes of added time to seal the three points.

The result solidified Al Wasl’s position in the upper tier of the league table, improving its season record to seven wins, three losses and four draws. The win also completed a league double over Al Bataeh, following a 1-0 away victory in the reverse fixture on Sept. 21, 2025. For Al Bataeh, the narrow defeat extended a winless run in the league, leaving its record at three wins, nine losses and three draws. The club has now managed just one victory in its last ten outings across all competitions.

The match unfolded largely as predicted by statistical models. Interstat’s game simulator had projected an exact 1-0 scoreline in favor of Al Wasl, while its ELO rating system gave the hosts a 77.4 percent probability of victory prior to kickoff.

Al Wasl will look to build on this result when it hosts Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC in its next league fixture on Wednesday. Al Bataeh, seeking to reverse its fortunes, returns home to face Baniyas SCC next Friday.