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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THERE are four possible scenarios that await soccer fans on Sunday when the Castle Lager Premiership season winds up after a gruelling 30-match marathon.
Three of the possible outcomes are almost a must for Dynamos and Highlanders while log leaders, Harare City need just one of the four to lift their maiden league title since gaining promotion last season.
According to Order 22.1-5 of the PSL rules and regulations, when two or more teams have an equal number of points, goal difference (that is goals scored for minus goals scored against) shall be used to determine position of the team (team with the best or highest goal difference occupying the top spot).
“Where teams have equal goal difference, the number of goals scored for shall be used to determine relative position of the teams and in the event teams have equal number of the same (goals scored for), the aggregate of the result between the two teams (head to head) shall be used to determine relative position where possible,” read the rules.
Where the aggregate of the results between the teams is a draw there shall be a play-off at a neutral venue chosen by the league.
First scenario
The Bigboy Mawiwi-coached Harare municipality side are leading the pack with 53 points, two clear of second and third placed Dynamos and Highlanders respectively and on Sunday against Caps United they need an outright win or a draw and hope the chasing duo lose or draw their matches.
Dynamos are home to relegation haunted Black Mambas while Highlanders play host to Shabanie Mine at Barbourfields Stadium.
Second scenario
A draw for Harare City, win for Dynamos and a loss for Highlanders will see the two Harare sides tied on 54 points with Highlanders falling out of the permutations.
Dynamos will take the title by virtue of a better goal difference according to part of Order 22 of the PSL rules and regulations because already they are on plus 19 while Harare City are on plus 18 having scored 41 and conceded 23 goals going into the weekend matches. Any draw, scoring or none scoring for Harare City will leave their goal difference at plus 18 while DeMbare will better their plus 19.
Third scenario
A draw for Harare City, win for Highlanders and a loss for the Dynamos will see the Harare giants falling out of consideration while Bosso’s points will tally with Harare City at 54 points.
The title will be decided in exactly the same way as the above case because a draw for Harare City still leaves them with plus 18 goal difference while Highlanders who have a plus 16 goal difference heading to the weekend matches, need a 2-0 win for them to level the goal difference and in the event of a none scoring draw for Harare City, Highlanders will have a better goals for record.
Fourth scenario
If both Dynamos and Highlanders win their matches while Harare City again draw, the three sides will all be tied on 54 points. Harare City’s none scoring draw will see them falling out, leaving the title calculations in favour of the two giants. The winning margin by Dynamos and Highlanders will come in very handy now. A 1-0 win for DeMbare will land them their third straight title if Highlanders fail to beat Shabanie Mine by at least four goals. A 1-0 win for DeMbare and a 4-0 win for Bosso will see the two giants’ level on goal difference, plus 20 but Highlanders will lift the title by virtue of better goals for as they would have scored 46 goals compared to DeMbare’s 42.
A 2-0 win for Dynamos can see them failing to lift the trophy only if Highlanders again hammers Shabanie Mine 5-0. In fact Highlanders need to score three goals better than any that Dynamos will score on Sunday to entertain hopes of lifting the title, a huge call for a side still dazed from a 4-0 mauling by Harare City.
Highlanders, however, need Harare City to have a non-scoring draw in order to avoid the Head to Head rule coming into play for second and third place in the event that they fail to beat Shabanie Mine by at least four goals to nil and Dynamos win their match by any margin.
P W D L F A GD PTS
Harare City 29 14 11 4 41 23 18 53
Dynamos 29 13 12 4 41 22 20 51
Highlanders 29 15 6 8 42 26 16 51
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