Fayoum finished second despite losing, MS Maghagha relegated despite winning

After a long break caused by the Ramadan, the Egyptian Second Division B resumed about a week ago with the matches of the 17th round (second to last) and yesterday the matches of the last round were played. In group B, there was no question regarding promotion, because Tersana have been already promoted for some time now, and only the second position was in danger, because Fayoum lost unexpectedly 4-1 to MS Maghagha in the second to last round, while El Minya won and came only three poinst behind Fayoum before the last round. Fayoum did not play in the last round, and El Minya only needed a win at two-goal difference over Telephonat Beni Suef to clinch the second place, but once again football proved to be unpredictable, as worryless Telephonat went on to win away at El Minya, and therefore Fayoum preserved their second place. 

Fayoum home defeat to MS Maghagha was their only defeat of the season, but could have costed them the second place, which might give them a chance for promotion under very special circumstances. However, MS Maghagha were much more interested in the points, as they needed them to escape relegation. Their win at Fayoum provided them with a life-line, but everything was to be played in the last round. MS Maghagha and Beni Mazar were last with the same number of points and same goal difference, only a higher total number of goals scored by Beni Mazar. Tamya and El Wasta had two points more, but in the last round they faced exactly MS Maghagha and Beni Mazar. So, the maths said that both MS Maghagha and Beni Mazar needed to win to be certain they avoid relegation. In case both won, Tamya was to be relegated, because their goal difference was much worse than El Wasta. Therefore, El Wasta were rather safe, even if they played away and lost, it was pretty much impossible for them to remain last. As a consequence, it was considered that MS Maghagha had an easier match against El Wasta: a win by MS Maghagha would have meant that the team relegated was to be decided by the result of the match between Tamya and Beni Mazar. In case Maghagha won, Beni Mazar were only saved with a win, and Tamya were relegated; in case of a draw or a Tamya win, Beni Mazar would have been relegated. 

But, as already pointed out, football is unpredictable. MS Maghagha did not win against El Wasta, the match finished 1-1. MS Maghagha would have been saved only if Beni Mazar lost. However, Tamya and Beni Mazar also drew 1-1, and MS Maghagha were relegated because of the lower number of goals scored!

Full results and final table of the Second Division B, Group B:

 

Round 17 (19 April 2024)

 

Fayoum – Maghagha 1-4

Al Wasta – El Minya 0-1

Telephonat – Tamya 2-0

Beni Mazar – Egypt Stars 3-1

Tersana bye

 

Round 18 (26 April 2024)

 

Maghagha – Al Wasta 1-1

Tamya – Beni Mazar 1-1

Egypt Stars – Tersana 1-2

El Minya – Telephonat 1-2

Fayoum bye

 

Final table

 

1	Tersana	16	13	3	0	35-5	42	Promoted to the Second Division
2	Fayoum	16	6	9	1	16-10	27
3	El Minya	16	6	6	4	19-16	24
4	Egypt Stars	16	6	3	7	20-13	21
5	Telephonat	16	6	1	9	15-23	19
6	Al Wasta	16	3	7	6	15-19	16
7	Tamya	16	4	4	8	15-31	16
8	Beni Mazar	16	3	5	8	18-27	14
9	Maghagha	16	2	8	6	13-22	14	Relegated to the Third Division

 

In case that two or more teams are equal on points, the goal difference is the main ranking criterion, followed by the total number of goals scored.