Al-Nasr Women and Bam Hatun Women played out a 1:1 draw in the preliminary round of the AFC Women's Champions League on Wednesday evening. The match took place on 20 August 2026, and what should have been a straightforward encounter turned into a late thriller. And here's the thing — the game remained deadlocked until the dying moments of stoppage time.
The opening goal arrived at 90+3, catching everyone off guard. Al-Nasr had dominated possession for most of the contest, but they couldn't find a way through until the final whistle loomed. By then, the visitors were sitting deep and waiting for their moment.
Just three minutes later, Bam Hatun struck back. The equaliser at 90+6 came from a counter-attack that Al-Nasr couldn't track back fast enough. To be fair, the hosts had changed shape at the break and left space behind their advancing full-backs. The visitors took advantage of that tactical shift.
What this result means for both sides is worth examining. Al-Nasr came into the match having won five of their last five games, including a 5:1 victory over Al-Ula and a 6:1 thrashing of the Police Women's team. They couldn't afford another slip after that run, but they drew instead.
Bam Hatun's form has been more mixed. They beat Nasaaf Women 1:0 in November 2025, but also lost 4:0 to Wuhan Jiangda in the same month. The 3:0 victory over CSKA-Pamir Dushanbe on 17 August showed they could compete at this level. By then, they had clearly worked on their defensive structure.
The preliminary round format means every point matters. Al-Nasr held on grimly after going behind, showing character they hadn't necessarily displayed earlier in the match. Bam Hatun rescued a point away from home, which could prove crucial in the group stages.
