Dubai: Al Shabab are eyeing a realistic second place after adding a further three points to their tally with a narrow 1-0 win against Bani Yas on Friday.
Al Shabab stayed firm in third with 37 points, just two away from second-placed Al Jazira while Al Ain added just one to swell their tally to 43.
Al Shabab’s hard-working Brazilian striker Henrique Luvannor scored the all-important goal for the home side when he raced to meet his goalkeeper’s kick and cut past Mohsin Al Hashmi on the Al Jazira goal and placed into an unattended net.
The home side then spent most of the second half defending their narrow lead as Bani Yas threatened to equalise. However, Al Shabab held till the end of full-time and stay within two points of second-placed Al Jazira.
“These were very important three points for us. The game had two different parts where we were good with one-touch football. But in the second part it was Bani Yas taking control and we did well to stop them from scoring,” Junior said.
“All results are good for us as that opens up the league. I believed Al Jazira can be the champions. Our target now is to be second and that is the big goal. There are seven more matches now and we want things step by step. The first target is to come second and then we try to go for the championship title,” the Brazilian added.
