DUBayy, United Arab Emirates (Interstat) — In a match that defied pregame projections, Al Nasr CSC and visiting Al Bataeh CSC played to a 1-1 draw in Arabian Gulf League action Wednesday at Al Maktoum Stadium.

The result, which saw a late equalizer cancel out a second-half opener, left both clubs with identical records to open their league campaigns: no wins, no losses and one draw.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-0 victory for the home side, with its ELO system giving Al Nasr a 73.6 percent probability to win. Al Bataeh, however, demonstrated resilience to secure a road point.

The match began with physical play, resulting in early yellow cards. Al Bataeh’s Ulrich Meleke was cautioned in the 5th minute, followed by Al Nasr’s veteran midfielder Luka Milivojević in the 21st minute.

The first half passed without a goal, but the deadlock was broken just two minutes after the restart. In the 43rd minute, Al Bataeh substitute Mohammad Juma Eid found the net with a right-footed finish. The assist was credited to fellow substitute Ulrich Meleke, who contributed decisively shortly after his earlier booking.

Al Nasr, spurred by falling behind at home, increased its pressure. The persistence paid off in the 77th minute when forward Cheickna Doumbia powered in a header to level the score. The crucial assist came from Milivojević, the Serbian playmaker orchestrating the comeback from his midfield role.

The final stages saw tensions rise, with Al Bataeh’s Rashed Muhayer receiving a yellow card in the 88th minute. Neither side could fashion a winning goal in the remaining time, sharing the points in the league fixture.

The draw provides each team with its first point of the new Arabian Gulf League season. Both Al Nasr and Al Bataeh now hold an overall record of zero wins, zero losses and one draw across all competitions for the 2025-2026 campaign.