Statistics from Al Ain, the leaders of the UAE Pro League, confirm that the team not only excels at an early start but also masters the art of a late comeback. This season, Al Ain has secured 13 victories, with six of those wins coming from goals scored in the final minutes or stoppage time, a clear indication of their ability to manage crucial moments. 'The Leader' has played 18 matches so far, accumulating 42 points. Notably, nearly half of their victories (six) were achieved after the 82nd minute, including three instances where substitutes secured the win, reflecting a high mental fortitude, advanced physical readiness, and growing confidence in the bench players for critical periods of the game. According to statistics compiled by 'Emirates Today', the trend began in the first round against Bataeh, where the match was heading to a 1-1 draw before Abdelkerim Traoré snatched the winning goal in the 82nd minute. The scenario repeated in the second round against Dibba, after Al Ain squandered a two-goal lead, allowing their opponents to equalize 2-2. However, Hussein Rahimi secured the three points with a goal in the 90+6th minute. Challenges resurfaced for the team after 10 rounds, specifically in the 12th round against Al Dhafra. Al Ain trailed from the 16th minute but regained their footing through Laba Kodjo's equalizer in the 60th minute, before Nabil Khazri scored a killer goal in the 82nd. Late-game heroics continued. In the 15th round against Al Jazira, in a highly competitive and intense match, Al Ain waited until the 83rd minute to seal the victory through Alejandro Caco. The team faced a similar test in the 17th round against Bani Yas. They were early in the second half, came back to lead, then conceded an equalizing goal. As the match seemed destined for a 2-2 draw, substitute Hussein Rahimi emerged again to score the winning goal in the 87th minute. Difficulties persisted in the 18th round against Khorfakkan. After the hosts' late equalizer in the 86th minute made it 2-2, it appeared that would be the final result. However, Sofyan Rahimi affirmed the team's character by scoring the winning goal in the 90+3rd minute, completing his personal hat-trick in the match. This string of late victories reflects more than just numbers; it reveals a team with a deep and impactful bench, mental stability in the toughest moments, and an attacking mentality that persists until the final whistle. These elements often make the difference in long title races. Al Ain is the top point-earner after falling behind. Al Ain tops the list of teams who have earned the most points after falling behind in the score, having accumulated 8 points—the highest figure in the league—reflecting their ability to bounce back in complicated matches. Conversely, the team sits seventh in the list of points dropped after leading, with 6 points, due to draws they received after being ahead, most notably against Al Jazira, Al Nasr, and Al Wahda in the first round. Four factors behind the excellence in crucial minutes. Abdullah Hassan: Al Ain possesses the mental strength of a champion. Football expert and lecturer at the International and Asian Confederations, Abdullah Hassan, identified four key points that explain Al Ain's success in clinching matches in the final moments this season, attributing it to the team's mental strength and champion-like character. In an interview with 'Emirates Today', he stated that the first point is the players' insistence on achieving victory until the final whistle. The second point is linked to the interventions of head coach Vladimir Ivic, who brings on elements capable of making a difference at the crucial moment. He added that high physical fitness represents the third factor, while the fourth point lies in the mental strength and champion's character, where the team continues to press in search of a win, while other teams tend to be content with preserving the existing result. The numbers reveal a team that possesses a deep and influential bench.
