Not yet, or maybe even never: Hardrock fluff chance to seal title win, while Scottland revive charge

Hardrock’s goalless draw with Simba Bhora at Wadzanayi Stadium yesterday could turn out to be costly for the Kwekwe-based Premiership debutants.

Kelvin Kaindu’s charges have done almost everything right in what has been a remarkable maiden campaign in the top-flight, but their failure to beat Simba Bhora has left the championship race hanging in the balance.

Hardrock head into the final round on 70 points, just two ahead of defending champions Scottland, who revived their title ambitions with an emphatic 4-0 demolition of Herentals at Rufaro Stadium.

On paper, Hardrock remain favourites. They have the advantage, they are top of the standings and, most importantly, they still control their destiny.

However, there is a scenario in which Kaindu’s men could fail to win the title regardless.

And that is what makes Sunday’s final round particularly intriguing.

Hardrock host FC Platinum at Chahwanda, while Scottland travel to Gibbo Stadium to face Triangle United.

The equation appears straightforward: Hardrock need to beat FC Platinum to guarantee themselves a historic maiden league championship.

But should they fail to collect maximum points, Scottland could take advantage.

A defeat for Hardrock would leave them stranded on 70 points. If Scottland beat Triangle, they would move to 71 points and overtake the leaders to claim the championship.

Even a draw could prove costly for the Kasongo Boys.

Should Hardrock share the spoils with FC Platinum, they would move to 71 points. However, a Scottland victory would also take the defending champions to 71 points, potentially leaving the championship to be decided on goal difference.

Scottland currently enjoy a superior goal difference of +39 compared to Hardrock’s +36.

That three-goal advantage could become decisive if both sides finish level on points.

In other words, Hardrock could win their final matchday battle for a point, remain unbeaten in their last two league fixtures and still watch Scottland lift the trophy.

The defending champions have given themselves a lifeline when many had seemingly written them off.

Hardrock, on the other hand, will have to confront the reality that being league leaders is not the same as being champions.

Their goalless draw against Simba Bhora was a missed opportunity to end the contest with a game to spare. Poor finishing and a failure to convert decent might prove costly.

For the Zambian mentor, the goalless draw with Simba was not a stalemate, it was a loss.

“It was a very difficult game, this is a game we have lost mentally because we played a team that had no chances created at all whereas I don’t know how many chances we created,” Kaindu said after the game.

Hardrock did everything right yesterday, except scoring. Picture by Fanzone

“I would probably say lack of composure made us to lose this game. We created a lot of chances and could have wrapped up the game in the first half or even the last few minutes of the game because we had two good chances which we should have taken,” he added.

Heading into the last game of the season, Hardrock have the advantage, but Scottland have the opportunity.

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