There were celebrations echoing from the Black Dragons Stadium earlier in Round 49 as the Dragons were crowned US Division 1 Champions for the second time running. Playing at home, they needed a win to guarantee their champion status, or, if they drew or lost, for Texas to get at most a draw. Texas were facing Wonder Peppers away, while Black Dragons were playing Purple Colors. All it took was a fourth minute goal from 18-year-old striker Joa Basheer, and the Dragons never looked back. More youth talent would shine as 16-year-old American winger Haneef Nichols would put up a first half hat trick. Later, Savo Naseer would score, and Basheer would grab himself a second to make the full time scoreline at the whistle an impressive 6-0. Texas, meanwhile, only came up with a draw, with the Peppers actually drawing late first blood with a Shepherd Sohail header off a corner in the 89th minute. Not wanting to be too outdone, though, Adam pushed the Texans to an even later equalizer, with Sayed Hasni finding the back of the net (and crushing Peppers fans dreams of winning against the top six) in the 90th minute of the game. That result, however, wasn’t enough. Black Dragons will receive a guard of honor in the last round of matches away at BMO Stadium. Interestingly, the Dragons came top of the league all the way back in Matchday 5, Round 8, earning top spot at Texas’s demise after they fell to second. After slipping to fourth place, Texas found their way back to the second Champions Cup spot in Matchday 10, Round 15, and both teams would stay in their places for the remainder of the season. We will see if Black Dragons can see two more wins against their title rivals in the National Trophy and League Cup finals, which would earn the Dragons a domestic treble for the second successive season.

As for the rest of the league, though, while first and second places are wrapped up, there is still more jostling for places that can take place. Third place is still being contested by a slightly resurgent First Boxers and the high-flying Nike FC. While the Boxers currently sit third with 69 points, a win for Nike with seven or more goals awa at the Etihad combined with a Boxers loss against Coma Fighters will see Nike take the first Super Cup spot instead. However, Nike also have to look behind their shoulder at Mid-Cities, currently 5th but only one point behind them (66 versus 65). If Mid-Cities take victory at home against Turquoise Shadows, and Nike fail to win, the former can pip the latter to fourth. In turn, though, 6th placed Baltic Lynx can overtake Envican’s side on the final day, though they will have to beat Texas at NRG Stadium and hope for a Mid-Cities loss to do so. 7th place has been cemented by Wonder Peppers as the “best of the rest” outside the top six, with manager Nick Romero congratulating his team on the overachievement. Behind them, though, Giant Hawks and Orion Athletes will battle for 8th place and the extra bonuses that come with finishing in the top half. The Hawks will take on Scorpius Champs at home, while the Hunters need their table neighbors to lose, and themselves to win away against Wonder Peppers, to leapfrog the Hawks. Or, if the Hawks draw, however, the Athletes will need to score seven goals unanswered to gain the higher spot. 10th place Manchester City are not yet clear, being only three points ahead of the relegation playoff places. With this being said, LAFC in 11th would need to score a whopping 28 goals against Black Dragons (slightly unlikely) and see Nike beat the Cityzens (more likely) for the switch to occur. Finally, while the bottom three of Purple Colors, Turquoise Shadows, and Coma Fighters have all been condemned to relegation (and all in the same order since Matchday 13, or Round 22), a late push from Warriors may see them push up out of the direct relegation spots. If the Hawks beat Scorpius Champs, and Warriors win away against Purple Colors, they will send the Scorpions down directly, and see them fight for survival in the relegation playoff final. Be sure to tune into the final day of the season, Round 49, here on the US Division Networks.

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