With just over four weeks left in the 2014 Dialog Champions League it has already heated up with teams scrambling it out for the Championship, top four, top eight and to avoid relegation.
The championship battle has come down to four clubs; Solid SC, Negombo Youth, Navy SC and Colombo FC.
As of 10th December Solid SC is sitting atop of the table with 39 points having played 17 matches and Negombo Youth are second with 37 points also having played 17 matches. Colombo FC and Navy have both played 15 matches a piece with 35 points but Colombo FC has third position due to a better goal difference.
Final Fixtures
Each of the top four has at least one match against their top rivals. Solid SC has three games left and of them one is against title rivals Navy. The other two are against bottom
placed Saunders and last year’s Champions, Air Force. Negombo Youth has a fixture against Colombo FC, Super Sun and Renown. Colombo FC’s final five matches include Negombo Youth, Navy, Air Force, New Youngs and Crystal Palace while Solid SC, Colombo FC, Air Force, Renown and Pelicans SC complete the final five matches for Navy.
Final Countdown
Solid has been the second highest goal scoring club and also has the second best defensive record having only conceded 12. It is no wonder that they hold the top spot in the table with the center back pairing of Captain Amith Kumara and Sri Lanka player Suranda Bandara, while the attack is led by Oluwafemi Shola, Afis Olayemi and Gnanaroopan.
Solid would be expected to ease over struggling Saunders but their records against the bottom ranked teams are not good. They have drawn against Police and Kalutara Park who are struggling to avoid relegation. If the Anuradhapura based club can get the three points from Saunders then they need at least four points from Navy and Air Force to be in the hunt for their maiden Champions League title.
Solid wasted the opportunity to add two more points when they let slip a two goal advantage in the final 12 minutes to draw against Negombo Youth last week. They would be bitterly disappointed with it and in these final stages it could prove to be the difference of getting the tile or not. Will those drawn matches against low ranking teams come back to haunt Solid?
Negombo Youth simply speaking needs to win their final three matches and hope other results would go their way. It would not be easy as Colombo FC, Super Sun and Renown are all attacking teams. However Negombo Youth’s defense which has only conceded 12 goals (same as Solid) would need to stem the flow and grind out the wins.
Colombo FC and Navy have at least three tough fixtures in their final five matches including their head to head battle which could possibly be the title decider. Colombo FC are without their ace striker Frank this season due to a serious knee injury. However they have adapted to the situation and have become more tactically strong under Coach Mohomed Roomy. Colombo FC’s title hopes heavily relies on the tactical mastermind; Roomy.
Navy has the toughest run up to end the season with four of their final five matches against strong opponents; Solid, Colombo FC, Air Force and Renown. Navy after a rollicking start to the season has hit bumps in the road losing to Blue Star and drawing against Negombo Youth and Java Lane in their last three matches. From a possible 9 points they have only accumulated only two points; which has made the title race wide open. Coach Balendra Anthony was not happy with their recent performances and is concerned whether his side has what it takes to seize the moment and deliver the title.
Prediction
It is always good to have points attained than have matches in hand because points create pressure. So even though Solid has played two matches more than Colombo FC and Navy, they have a four point advantage. Their organized defense and the daunting attacking prospects put them in pole position for the title. Further their superior goal difference gives them the advantage if they finish level on points with another club. While I expect Colombo FC to finish strong they would fall just short. Navy has gone off track and I doubt they can get back on the course swiftly.
Champions – Solid SC
Runners-up – Colombo FC
3rd Place – Navy SC
4th Place – Negombo Youth
