Ali Thameem
Club Maldives Cup 2024 has reached its midway, and the knockout games are about to kick off. In the two weeks since the first game, CMC’s group stage has seen 228 goals scored across 42 games (5.43 goals scored per game on average, up from 5.38 goals per game in last year’s group stage)
Group winners HDC, FSM, STO RC, RRC, and MPL all are on winning streaks, collecting all nine points in three games. United BML and Dhivehi Sifainge Club of group E are unbeaten as well, so are group D winners STELCO RC and second-placed Dhiraagu.
This year’s CMC format leaves two vacant slots in RO16 after confirming the group winners and runner-ups, given that there are seven groups instead of the usual eight. The rule of goal advantage played its role in allocating two of the top performers among the third-placed clubs into the fourth pot of the draw.
Club Immigration – despite succumbing to their Group D counterparts STELCO RC and Dhiraagu – managed to pull off a 4-nil win against Customs RC. The resulting three points were enough given their positive goal for/against ratio.
Team MACL ended 3rd in Group B, behind group winner Team FSM and second-placed TTS. A single goal’s difference separated the standing of TTS and MACL, both the clubs being equal on points. MACL’s four points put them on the highest rank among third-placed clubs, thus their entrance into the knock-outs.
