THE quarter-final teams will know their fate this evening when the final round-robin game of the Petra organisation’s Futsal Championship takes place at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
In the Group A, where the last game of the evening will pit Sparta Boss against Tiger Bay, the latter only require a draw to progress to the elimination round with a loss being detrimental, considering the fact that four teams from the other groups might finish on four points.
On the other hand, Sparta need a win to guarantee qualification. A draw or a loss could be detrimental to their chances especially a loss, given that Group B and Group C possess several teams that could each finish on either four or six points for the critical third-place qualifier.
In the other Group A game which is the opening fixture, a win for Back Circle over Agricola seals their place in the next round.
A draw could also prove enough, especially if there is a winner in the Tiger Bay and Sparta matchup. A loss could be tricky especially if Sparta win, coupled with results from the other groups for that coveted third-place qualifier.
Meanwhile, Agricola need several factors to go their way to progress. Firstly they need a heavy win against Back Circle. Secondly they need Tiger Bay to win by a large margin against Sparta Boss. Thirdly, they require Broad Street and Albouystown to play to a draw or a marginal win for Albouystown, and fourthly for West Front Road to beat Tucville and West Back Road to defeat North East La Penitence. If all these criteria are met they would automatically qualify.
In the Group B fixtures, West Front Road have practically sealed qualification and a loss against Tucville would not harm their chances in any way with a worse-case scenario allowing them a third-place finish in the group and one of the two third-place teams to go through.
On the other hand, a win would guarantee Tucville a place in the next round while a draw would also give them a good chance of securing a knockout berth as third-ranked, based on the results of the next round. A loss could translate into an exit, given the results of the other groups.
In the other Group B game of the evening, North East La Penitence are in a similar position as Tucville, with a win guaranteeing their place in the next round. A loss would more than likely result in their exit especially based on results from the other groups while a draw could prove enough for them to sneak their way into the next round as third-place qualifiers
West Back Road need several results to go their way to clinch a berth to the next round. Firstly they need a sizeable win due to their poor goal differential, followed by West Front Road winning by a significant margin against Tucville, leaving the Group with three teams on three points.
The Group runners-up would emerge via goal differential. To qualify as a third-ranked team, Back Circle and Tiger Bay would also need sizeable wins from Group A and either an Albouystown win or draw against Broad Street.
Group C will need a miracle for Albouystown to qualify in their game against Broad Street Ballerz, with their only hope being as third-place qualifiers. Their goal differential means they have to win by a very large margin and hope several outcomes fall their way, including West Front Road and West Back Road winning by large score lines.
They also require Tiger Bay and Back Circle to defeat Sparta Boss and Agricola by significant margins in Group A. All these outcomes must fall their way in order to stand even a chance of qualifying as third-place qualifiers
Sophia have practically sealed their place and can afford a loss, as the least they can finish in the Group is second, which gives them an automatic berth to the next round.
Bent Street need a win to guarantee their place while a draw might be enough to seal their berth.
However, they could still technically be eliminated if they suffer a significant loss, if Broad Street win handsomely and if results from the other groups go against them, especially Group B, which has the possibility of three teams finishing on six points.
Matches start at 19:30hrs.