ULAANBAATAR (Interstat) — B Enkhtulga scored in the 90th minute to give FC Ulaanbaatar a 1-0 victory over Deren on Thursday in a match that stayed scoreless deep into the closing stages. Enkhtulga, who was on the field for the full 90 minutes, supplied the decisive finish as the home side broke through at the end of regulation. The goal was the only one of the game. FC Ulaanbaatar then had two players sent off in the fourth minute of stoppage time, leaving the home side short-handed for the final moments. The home side had little time to enjoy the lead before the red cards, but Deren could not take advantage. Deren could not find a response before the final whistle as FC Ulaanbaatar closed out the win.

The result moved FC Ulaanbaatar to six wins and no losses in the competition and to the same record across all competitions. Deren is now 3-2-1 in the competition and 3-2-1 across all competitions, with three wins, two losses and one draw. FC Ulaanbaatar remained unbeaten in the competition and across all competitions. Deren’s competition mark includes three wins, two losses and one draw, matching its overall record. The visitors had entered the match looking to build on recent results but were unable to break down the home side. The result kept FC Ulaanbaatar’s unbeaten start intact in both the competition and across all competitions. Deren, meanwhile, remained on three wins, two losses and one draw in the competition and overall.

FC Ulaanbaatar came into the game after a run that included a 1-0 win at Central Stallions, a 2-0 home victory over Central Stallions, an 8-0 home win over Khovd Western, a 3-1 win at Khaan Khuns-Erchim and an 8-0 home win over Ulaangom City. Deren’s previous results this season included a 2-0 home win over Hunters, a 5-0 home win over Khaan Khuns-Erchim, a 2-1 loss at Central Stallions, a 3-3 home draw with Khovd and a 5-1 win at Khovd Western. Those results set up a contest between a home side in strong form and a visiting team seeking consistency. FC Ulaanbaatar had won each of its previous five matches in the competition. The visitors had won three of their previous five matches before Thursday, with one loss and one draw.

The match remained scoreless for most of the evening. Neither side found a breakthrough until the 90th minute, when Enkhtulga scored for FC Ulaanbaatar. The goal gave the home side the lead and forced Deren to chase an equalizer in the closing moments. Deren could not find a response before the final whistle. The late red cards left FC Ulaanbaatar short-handed, but the home side held on for the win. The late dismissals made for a nervy finish, but FC Ulaanbaatar protected its advantage.

Enkhtulga’s performance was the standout of the match, with the FC Ulaanbaatar player finishing with one goal while playing the full 90 minutes. His goal arrived at the end of regulation and proved to be the difference. The two red cards shown to FC Ulaanbaatar in stoppage time added a tense finish to a game that had otherwise remained tight. Deren pressed for a late equalizer but could not beat the home side before time expired. Enkhtulga’s goal was the latest decisive moment in a contest that had remained scoreless through the first 89 minutes. The two red cards were the only dismissals in the game.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of FC Ulaanbaatar 2, Deren 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected FC Ulaanbaatar with a 69.4 percent probability to win. FC Ulaanbaatar had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 3.5.