Dubai: Caio Junior was a relieved man after seeing his Al Shabab side recover from back-to-back defeats with an impressive 4-2 win against Sharjah in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) at the Maktoum Stadium late on Wednesday.

Al Shabab had raised eyebrows by starting the season with three successive wins — a 4-2 pounding of defending champions and arch-rivals Al Ahli, a 2-1 win against Al Nasr and a 2-0 result over new entrants Kalba.

However, the early leaders fell 2-1 to Al Wahda and then caved to a 2-0 loss at Bani Yas, causing some concern for their Brazilian coach.

But all that apprehension was set aside on Wednesday as Al Shabab led 1-0 at half-time and then added three more in the second to assert their position as one of the contenders for AGL honours this season.

Eisa Obaid got his name on the score sheet for the first time this season to give the home side the lead. Chilean international Carlos Villanueva made it 2-0 five minutes after the resumption, only to see Sharjah’s Brazilian striker Wanderley pull one back in the 57th minute.

Henrique Luvannor made it 3-1 in the 76th minute and Uzbekistani midfielder Azizbek Hydarov wrapped up the points in injury time. The visitors got a second consolation when Wanderley hustled past tardy Al Shabab goalkeeper Salem Abdullah.

“I am very happy as this is the best game for me in two months. Going into this match, I was concerned that we would not be able to rise above the past two losses and win. Had we lost, then I would have to work even harder on getting the players psychologically prepared for the matches ahead,” Caio Junior said.

“There are the big clubs who need even more attention and I am relieved that things are now back on track. By far, this is the most talented group of players I have worked with in a long time.

“I work with short targets. Our next target is the next match and the three points against Emirates Club [on October 27].”

Sharjah coach Paulo Bonamigo, who led Al Shabab between 2009 and 2012, was not too concerned by the loss.

“The points difference between the teams in the upper half and the lower part of the standings is not much. We have been playing well in spurts. We now need to find a consistency in our performances,” he said.

“Al Shabab have been together as a team for a long time and they were the more efficient side tonight. We are working hard and we want to set big ambitions before this team as I know they are capable of beating the big teams.”