The 2014 Dialog Champions League is in its final stages and a few clubs are in need of a miracle in this Christmas season.
Super Eights
Already the top four clubs; Solid, Colombo FC, Navy and Negombo Youth have booked their places for the Super Eights. From the other four spots two positions have been all but secured by Army and Blue Star.
Army has four games left which includes Blue Star, Up Country Lions, Java Lane and Matara City. Blue Star has matches against Army, Air Force and Saunders. Super Sun’s final two matches are with Lions and Saunders while Renown’s final match is against Navy. Up Country Lions’ final four matches are with Super Sun, Army, Don Bosco, Nandimithra and Saunders. Air Force has the more congested fixtures ahead with seven matches; Solid SC, Colombo FC, Navy, Blue Star, Nandimithra, Matara City, Police and Kalutara Park.
Army has been dismal against the top four clubs having only earned just one point from the possible 12 points. The free scoring Army’s four defeats were against Solid, Navy, Air Force and Negombo Youth while one of the draws was against Colombo FC. However they have been ruthless against the other oppositions and have double the goal difference compared to the next best team. Navy’s late season collapse has gifted Army the chance to leap frog Navy and Negombo Youth into third place if they win their final four matches.
For Blue Star they’ll need at least five points from the final nine points to be in the safe zone of the Super Eights. It will prove to be a tough three matches but playing against Army at home where they have not lost in over a year could be an advantage, while Saunders who are scrambling in the relegation zone and Air Force also aiming for the Super Eights will not let it go easily.
Super Sun will also have to win the final two matches in order to have at least a chance of making the eight with Air Force and Up Country Lions hot on their heels. Even though Renown are in eight place on 27 points, they only have one match left and that too against the strong Navy side. It is hard to see them keep that eight place come the end of the season even if they win.
With five and seven matches left respectively Up Country Lions and Air Force has the opportunity to make a final surge and break into the top eight. Lions will have three home matches (Super Sun, Nandimithra, Don Bosco) but the weather these past few weeks has been horrible for the Nawalapitiya side that they haven’t had a proper practice session.
Air Force will be boosted by the return of Nipuna Bandara who played last week after a lengthy injury lay off. It will be a vital factor for their late season push for the top eight as they have been struggling in the last 6-7 matches without a designated striker.
Prediction
4th – Army
5th – Negombo Youth
6th – Air Force
7th – Blue Star
8th – Super Sun
9th – Up Country Lions
Relegation Battle
If you had asked me at the end of the first round who would get relegated, I would have definitely said Don Bosco. However they have re grouped in the second half of the season to get 20 points and be in the safe zone.
The final three clubs will get relegated with Police SC, Matara City, Saunders, Thihariya Youth and Kalutara Park in the mix. It is unfortunate that Police who have played good football this season have given away winning positions in the final 15 minutes of the match on a few occasions; matches against Nandimithra and Saunders comes to mind and with their final match against Air Force they have no other option but to win and hope other results go their way. Matara City in their advantage has three matches left but of those two are against top oppositions in Army and Air Force.
Saunders and Kalutara Park are with 11 and 9 points respectively with five matches left. Saunders, the one-time invincibles in Sri Lanka football with more than 30 titles who will celebrate their 100th anniversary next year are danger of having to celebrate their anniversary being relegated to division one for the first time. Indeed Saunders will need a Christmas miracle and so too will Kalutara Park, the relatively new comers to the premier division.
As for last year’s division I champions Thihariya Youth, their stay in the top division will come to an end with just one season. How ironic would it be if Crystal Palace, who were beaten by Thihariya for the division I championship could put the final nail in the coffin for the Gampaha side at the same venue they won.
Prediction
Relegation Three
1.Thihariya Youth
2.Police SC
3.Kalutara Park
