The inaugural season of Super League Kerala could witness a thrilling tie-breaker as the league phase enters the final round. Three teams - Calicut FC, Kannur Warriors FC and Forca Kochi FC - have booked their spots in the semifinals. The remaining semifinal spot is being contested between Thiruvananthapuram Kombans and Malappuram FC.
After nine rounds, the Kombans are fourth in the points table with 12 points, while Malappuram are fifth on 9 points. On Friday (November 1), Malappuram will host the Kombans at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri. If the Kombans win or the match ends in a draw, the Kombans will qualify, and Malappuram will be eliminated. So, for Malappuram to advance, they will have to win.
But imagine Malappuram win by the narrowest of margins, say 1-0 or 2-1, then the final league positions would simply be heartbreaking for the Kombans because they would be going out on goal difference. In such a scenario, both teams would be level every other aspect such as number of matches won (3), number of matches drawn (3), number of matches lost (4), number of goals scored (12/13) and number of points (12).
As per the league rules, if two teams are level on points after all league matches are played, the first tie-breaker to be applied is the 'most number of points obtained in all league matches'. In the event of a Malappuram win, there would be a tie as both teams will be level on 12 points. In that case, the next tie-breaker system is what would prove decisive. It says the team with the 'most number of points obtained in the league matches between the teams concerned' would advance.
Meanwhile, Thrissur Magic, the sixth team in the league, will not be able to make the semifinals even if they beat Forca Kochi in their final league game at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on October 29 (Tuesday). In the other final-round game, Kannur Warriors play Calicut FC at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode on October 31.
