History has a nasty habit of repeating itself for Al Shabab at this time of year.
In the last two campaigns, they have missed out on AFC Champions League qualification by one place after limping down the home straight. A frustratingly-small margin for an outfit that consistently perform well above their modest resources.
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Their continental dreams looked in threat once again until the 86th minute of Sunday night’s attritional clash against Fujairah, as a fourth winless Arabian Gulf League fixture loomed large with the game goalless.
That sinking feeling was shipped by one swipe of striker Edgar Bruno’s boot, firing Henrique Luvannor’s inviting centre high into the roof of the net to secure a 1-0 win and lift hopes of a return to the continent’s premier club competition.
They are now back in the driving seat, level on points with second-placed Al Jazira and less focused on looking over their shoulder at Al Wahda.
“The three points were very, very important for us,” Hawks boss Caio Junior said. “I spoke to the players at half-time telling them if we win 1-0 I am very happy, because it is a very difficult game.
“I don’t know what will happen in the coming matches, but this season is definitely better.
“We also have one semi-final [GCC Club Cup] and we also have the President’s Cup next month. So I am confident this season will be better than last season, in the end.
“I respect Jazira and I respect their players. I have worked there.”
Only the top three will be good enough to guarantee Shabab’s return to the ACL for the first time since 2013’s run to the round of 16. A fourth-placed finish would leave them open to the lottery of the President’s Cup, Al Ain’s triumph in it last term relegating the Hawks to the less significant GCC Club Cup.
The Boss could play an influential role again, with coach Zlatko Dalic taking the newly-crowned champions to the Clarets on Monday evening. Another triumph for the unassailable leaders will open a three-point gap between Shabab and Wahda, with only two fixtures remaining.
Shabab coach Caio Junior had been a picture of frustration, desperately searching for the cure to his team’s mental block.
The crossbar was rattled from close range in both halves by volleys from Carlos Villanueva then Essa Obaid, though an utterly outstanding low save from Salem Abdulla on 76 minutes stopped visiting forward Hassan Maatouk from making it worse with the goal at his mercy.
The selfless Edgar had previously only threatened to score at the wrong end, drawing a fantastic reaction save from Abdulla when stretching to clear a devious Karim Ziani free-kick in the final quarter.
He was the hero late on however, his team-mates and technical staff swamping him after firing home. They will hope his intervention will prove pivotal.
