Al Bataeh kicked off their 2023-24 ADNOC Pro League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 away win over Al Wahda at Al Nahyan Stadium.
The high-octane clash saw both teams level at 1-1 in the first half. But Al Bataeh's resilience shone when Álvaro de Oliveira delivered a late-game clincher, netting the ball just five minutes before the final whistle. This marked a bitter pill for Al Wahda, suffering a debut home defeat in the season opener. Conversely, for Al Bataeh, this win extends their streak, marking consecutive opening match victories in the ADNOC Pro League.
The visitors wasted no time and took an early lead in the 6th minute when Abdalla Abdulrahman Mohammed picked up the ball on the right flank before sending an excellent cross to Anatole Bertrand inside the box, as the latter used his first touch to smack a right-footed shot into the back of the net, marking the first goal in the ADNOC Pro League this season.
The lead did not last long; as Al Wahda leveled the scoring when they were awarded a penalty kick after Facundo Daniel was brought down inside the box by Al Bataeh's defender Rashed Muhayer Alktebi, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Joao Pedro stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, to make it 1-1.
As the second half unfolded, Al Wahda's ambitions were clear, with multiple near-misses in their quest for a lead. But it was Al Bataeh's determined defense and some commendable saves that kept them at bay.
The match's crescendo was reached when Alvaro De Oliveira, coming off the bench, sealed the victory and secured the three points for Al Bataeh only five minutes before the time when he was teed up by Abdalla Abdulrahman Mohammed inside the box before the former's effort saw a slight deflection and hit the back of the net.
Oliveira has now netted five goals in his last 10 matches in the ADNOC Pro League.
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