Dubai: Al Shabab coach Marcos Paqueta said Thursday’s 1-0 win at home to the legendary New York Cosmos was “a crowning moment” in his squad’s preparations for the remainder of the season.

The Hawks are currently second in the Arabian Gulf League, six points adrift of league leaders Al Ahli with seven games remaining.

They are out of the League and President’s Cups but remain in the GCC Champions League, where they face Bahrain’s Al Muharraq at home on Wednesday.

They drew their opening group game in the regional competition 1-1 away to Saudi Arabia’s Al Shoalah last month. With a month-long break in Arabian Gulf League fixtures, Al Shabab had only an academic 1-1 League Cup tie with Al Ahli last week with which to prepare for the business end of the season. But Paqueta said the friendly win over Cosmos — who are in Dubai on a pre-season training camp, and who reformed last year after 30 years — also helped hone his players for the final run-in.

“The League Cup game and this friendly were both very useful for us to give more opportunities to different players,” said Paqueta. “We worked on targets and tactical priorities to enhance performance and our preparation was crowned with this friendly win.

“We are really eager for a good performance in the GCC Champions League, especially as we only have two competitions left for the season. We had a good start away to Al Shoalah. But we have to continue this with a win at home to Muharraq in order to keep going in this championship.”

Useful preparation

Only Edgar Bruno’s right-footed volley after the half-hour separated the two sides. Cosmos, who are in the UAE as guests of their shirt sponsors Emirates airline and who won worldwide recognition in the 1970s when they had superstars such as Pele and Franz Beckenbauer in their ranks, will now play Al Wasl on Tuesday and Emirates Club next Saturday before they depart the following day.

Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese said the game was useful preparation for the start of their forthcoming North American Soccer League season.

“We struggled with rhythm against Al Shabab but once we found rhythm, we created some chances. Then we got tired and lost control. It got hot for us having just come off our winter.

“In the second half, we brought on some new players and changed formation to one striker. After this, we had more possession and created more chances but didn’t have the opportunity to put the ball in the net. Al Shabab were dangerous going forward. It was a great match to learn what we have to work with and see some players we haven’t seen yet.”