2022-09-15, 04:30 AM - Word count:
We are fast approaching the conclusion of the fifth season of the SSL and the two divisions have been providing many exciting matches and the excitement doesn't stop there in the final matchday of the season later this week.
The fight for promotion to the first division involves four out of the six teams. has put up some great performances in the beginning and later stages of the season, securing their promotion, and division championship, with 19 points going into their final game against . Montréal United on the other hand find themselves in second place on 14 points with three other teams breathing down their neck. They need to win their game against Adowa Accra FC to safely put them ahead of the chasing (13 points), (13 points) and (12 points).
CA Buenos Aires face F.C. Kaapstad in South Africa, hoping to bring home more than one point compared to their latest meeting. If F.C. Kaapstad wins this game they would have to rely on Montréal United and União São Pualo drawing or losing because of their worse goal differential. União São Paulo are arguably in the best spot out of these teams to grab the second promotion spot as they meet who have had a tough time this season, scoring only four goals in 9 games. They have picked up the pace lately and one could wonder if their form could hinder São Paulo's chances.
wins the division and is promoted to Division 1 for S6.
can secure promotion with a win OR a draw if both and don't win and doesn't win by more than 11 goals (?!).
can secure promotion with a win if doesn't win OR a draw if loses and doesn't win. (they play so a draw would prevent from overtaking them)
can secure promotion with a win if and win OR a draw if loses and loses by more than 11 goals.
can secure promotion with a win if , and lose OR if they win by more than 11 goals and draws while the others still lose.
In the first division, both the league championship and one of the relegation spots will be decided on the last day of the season.
In the bottom of the standings has unfortunately "secured" their relegation to Division 2 with 7 points accumulated. The second relegation spot is to be decided between (12 points) and (11 points). Cairo City will battle in the Derby of the Two Cities with (a preview of the SSL Cup Final on Saturday) and will probably have their work cut out for them as Sydney City needs to win this game to have a chance at the league championship. Seoul Mythic FC on the other hand face off against who is currently 4th with nothing to play for except positioning themselves ahead of in 5th with the same amount of points.
is not relegated with a win if Cairo doesn't win against Sydney OR a draw if Cairo loses by more than 7 goals.
is not relegated with a win OR a draw if Seoul loses.
At the top of the table, the league championship is yet to be decided between three teams, (25 points), (25 points) and (23 points). CF Catalunya and Hollywood FC both have the upper hand against Sydney but between them, it is very close. They both have the same goal difference (first tie break) but Hollywood lead their matchup (second tie break), winning their first game of the season 3-1 while drawing the second 0-0. Catalunya plays in the last game of the season, a team that has nothing to play for, but so does Hollywood meeting Tokyo. Of the two opponents, Tokyo should prove to be the better team but the previous game resulted in a win at home for both Catalunya and Hollywood.
Sydney City on the other hand needs to rely on both teams above them in the standings to lose, or at the very least draw, in order to have a chance at the championship. With a win against Cairo their large goal differential would make them first of the trio in the case Catalunya and Hollywood both draw, all placed at 26 points on the season.
will be the champions with a win if Hollywood wins by a smaller goal margin or Hollywood doesn't win OR a draw if Hollywood loses and Sydney doesn't win.
will be the champions with a win if Catalunya wins by the same or smaller margin or Catalunya doesn't win OR a draw if Catalunya loses and Sydney doesn't win.
will be the champions with a win if both Catalunya and Hollywood loses or both teams draw.
It astounds me that we always get to these final matchdays without knowing the final positions of the standings. Excitement until the very end!
Division 2
The fight for promotion to the first division involves four out of the six teams. has put up some great performances in the beginning and later stages of the season, securing their promotion, and division championship, with 19 points going into their final game against . Montréal United on the other hand find themselves in second place on 14 points with three other teams breathing down their neck. They need to win their game against Adowa Accra FC to safely put them ahead of the chasing (13 points), (13 points) and (12 points).
CA Buenos Aires face F.C. Kaapstad in South Africa, hoping to bring home more than one point compared to their latest meeting. If F.C. Kaapstad wins this game they would have to rely on Montréal United and União São Pualo drawing or losing because of their worse goal differential. União São Paulo are arguably in the best spot out of these teams to grab the second promotion spot as they meet who have had a tough time this season, scoring only four goals in 9 games. They have picked up the pace lately and one could wonder if their form could hinder São Paulo's chances.
wins the division and is promoted to Division 1 for S6.
can secure promotion with a win OR a draw if both and don't win and doesn't win by more than 11 goals (?!).
can secure promotion with a win if doesn't win OR a draw if loses and doesn't win. (they play so a draw would prevent from overtaking them)
can secure promotion with a win if and win OR a draw if loses and loses by more than 11 goals.
can secure promotion with a win if , and lose OR if they win by more than 11 goals and draws while the others still lose.
Division 1
In the first division, both the league championship and one of the relegation spots will be decided on the last day of the season.
In the bottom of the standings has unfortunately "secured" their relegation to Division 2 with 7 points accumulated. The second relegation spot is to be decided between (12 points) and (11 points). Cairo City will battle in the Derby of the Two Cities with (a preview of the SSL Cup Final on Saturday) and will probably have their work cut out for them as Sydney City needs to win this game to have a chance at the league championship. Seoul Mythic FC on the other hand face off against who is currently 4th with nothing to play for except positioning themselves ahead of in 5th with the same amount of points.
is not relegated with a win if Cairo doesn't win against Sydney OR a draw if Cairo loses by more than 7 goals.
is not relegated with a win OR a draw if Seoul loses.
At the top of the table, the league championship is yet to be decided between three teams, (25 points), (25 points) and (23 points). CF Catalunya and Hollywood FC both have the upper hand against Sydney but between them, it is very close. They both have the same goal difference (first tie break) but Hollywood lead their matchup (second tie break), winning their first game of the season 3-1 while drawing the second 0-0. Catalunya plays in the last game of the season, a team that has nothing to play for, but so does Hollywood meeting Tokyo. Of the two opponents, Tokyo should prove to be the better team but the previous game resulted in a win at home for both Catalunya and Hollywood.
Sydney City on the other hand needs to rely on both teams above them in the standings to lose, or at the very least draw, in order to have a chance at the championship. With a win against Cairo their large goal differential would make them first of the trio in the case Catalunya and Hollywood both draw, all placed at 26 points on the season.
will be the champions with a win if Hollywood wins by a smaller goal margin or Hollywood doesn't win OR a draw if Hollywood loses and Sydney doesn't win.
will be the champions with a win if Catalunya wins by the same or smaller margin or Catalunya doesn't win OR a draw if Catalunya loses and Sydney doesn't win.
will be the champions with a win if both Catalunya and Hollywood loses or both teams draw.
It astounds me that we always get to these final matchdays without knowing the final positions of the standings. Excitement until the very end!
Thanks to @sulovilen