There is life yet in the Arabian Gulf League title fight, it seems.
The final fixture before the long break for January's Asian Cup looked set to be the moment Al Ain served notice of their desire to make it a one-team race. Their last four fixtures had been won by a combined score of 15-2 to move within one point of leaders Al Jazira with two games in hand – the first coming against Al Shabab last night.
Caio Junior's third-placed side are no pushovers, though few predicted anything but another three points with the visitors at Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in such ominous form.
Instead, Jazira will remain at the top of the standings because of their superior head-to-head record when 2014 draws to a close after the Hawks fought out a 1-1 draw with 10 men that only came to life after the break.
For Al Ain to be level on points with the leaders and have a game in arrears is a remarkable achievement considering key marksman Asamoah Gyan, creative inspiration Omar Abdulrahman and forward Jires Kembo-Ekoko have been absent for long spells.
Coach Zlatko Dalic ominously predicted his side can "only get better" in the new year.
He said: "Omar Abdulrahman played only two games this first half of the season, Gyan also missed five or six games. Without this, we would probably be in the first position.
"With them, the second half of the season can be better than the first.
"Omar has been missed too much by my team. Other players give everything and we play very compact. We can be only better."
Last night, Edgar converted a controversial penalty with aplomb to send Shabab on their way, only for right-back Mohamed Ahmed to haunt his former club with an 86th-minute equaliser.
Referee Ammar Ali Abdulla Al Junaibi's decision to point to the spot seemed to come from the pressure of failing to award a previous shout when Ismail Ahmed handled his own header, rather than any later push from the UAE centre-back on the Brazilian striker.
But irregardless, Shabab made the night as uncomfortable as possible for their opponents.
Centre-back Mohammed Ali Ayed did not give Gyan a kick. Young stand-in goalkeeper Hassan Hamza, again, played well beyond his 20 years.
"Our target? We achieved it, to be in the top four," boss Caio Junior said. "Second round, we have different targets. This is my target.
"Last season, Shabab in the last seven games only won two points, but now we have new targets."
Very little of note occurred in a low-key opening. Edgar's header over from a corner in the 33rd minute the only chance of note.
This all changed just past the hour-mark. Guilt seemed to be in the referee's mind when the front man went down under the minimum of contact as Ismail Ahmed looked to sweep up a looping header.
There was no question marks about Edgar's finish, sending UAE goalkeeper Khalid Essa the wrong way from 12 yards.
A test of the Boss' mettle was then passed. The tempo was upped, substitute Kembo-Ekoko having a goal-bound header cleared by the excellent Ayed prior to Mohamed Ahmed's crucial intervention.
Winger Miroslav Stoch charged to the byline, his cut back being headed into the far corner by the right-back.
Edgar then blazed over a golden chance from kick off as Shabab pushed to regain the lead, the wind taken out of their sails as new UAE call-up Hassan Ibrahim was dismissed for a second yellow card after hacking down Stoch.
A case of what could have been for the ever-impressive Hawks.
