Left: Portmore's Anthony Modeste. Right: Tivoli Gardens' Roland Dean

In sharp contrast to a long season full of twists and turns, the arithmetic for both title aspirants, Portmore United and Tivoli, now seems pretty short and simple as they face each other at the Ferdie Neita Park at 7 p.m. this evening - one match plus one win equals the Digicel Premier League (DPL) title.

While a win for Portmore would see them take an unassailable five-point lead headed into Sunday's final round, a win for Tivoli, while not yet cause for pouring champagne, would keep their destiny in their own hands against Arnett Gardens in the season's final game.

Trailing Portmore by two points heading into today's fixture, it would be hard to conceive the west Kingston team surrendering the lead, were they to hit the front for the first time this season.

Coasting comfortably

At the start of the fourth round, Portmore seemed to be coasting comfortably towards their goal of repeating as back-to-back champions with an eight-point lead and only five matches to play.

However, in dropping back-to-back games for the first time this season, the title holders have stumbled badly with the victory just within reach.

"I think it might be a bit of nerves: we are seeing the title but are just not reaching it," said Portmore coach Linval Dixon.

"We are still not giving up, however, and we don't intend to lose it. The fact of the matter is that we have our destiny in our own hands," he added.

Tivoli have beaten Portmore on two of the three times that the teams have met this season, but Portmore won comfortably the only time the teams met at Ferdie Neita Park.

However, another win for Tivoli's coach Lenworth Hyde Sr will put his team in prime position and he promises the west Kingston team will give it their all.

"We have to carry everything to Portmore. They're having a slump now but you can't underestimate them," he said.

"It will be tough but we have to lift our game at Ferdie Neita Park."

Portmore are indeed in a slump with their normally reliable backline, led by captain Anthony Modeste and anchored by Shawn Sawyers in goal, having conceded an uncharacteristic four goals in their last two games.

Strike force

The St Catherine team will now certainly have their work cut out for them against arguably the league's hottest strike force of Roland Dean and Navion Boyd.

Still with an outside chance of winning the title, Harbour View, who have not yet packed it in for the season, will tackle Boys' Town in a must-win fixture at the Harbour View Mini Stadium.

Having already secured a fifth-place finish, Arnett will face sixth-place Waterhouse at the Drewsland Mini Stadium.

The relegation battle is also expected to be a hotly contested affair, as last-place Reno travel to the Elliston Wakeland Centre, where they face second-to-last Village.

Still unsafe

A win for either team coupled with a loss for Meadhaven, who face an already safe Rivoli at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, could see them temporarily climb out of the relegation zone.

In the day's other game, St Georges will travel to Brancourt where they face Sporting Central, who are still unsafe.

7 p.m. Portmore United vs Tivoli Gardens at Ferdie Neita Park

7 p.m. Harbour View vs Boys' Town at Harbour View Mini Stadium

4 p.m. Waterhouse vs Arnett Gardens at Drewsland Mini Stadium

4 p.m. Village United vs Reno at Elliston Wakeland Centre

4 p.m. Rivoli United vs Meadhaven at Spanish Town Prison Oval

4 p.m. Sporting Central Academy vs St Georges at Brancourt

Standings

(Tabulated under Teams, Play, Win, Draw, Lose, Goals For, Goals Against, Points)

Teams	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Portmore	36	20	10	6	44	21	70
Tivoli	36	20	8	8	53	30	68
H View	36	17	14	5	46	22	65
Boys' Town	36	16	9	11	56	46	57
Arnett	36	14	11	11	34	30	53
W'house	36	11	13	12	42	43	46
St Georges	36	12	6	15	33	43	43
Rivoli	36	11	9	16	35	49	42
Sporting	36	8	12	16	35	46	36
Meadhaven	36	8	11	17	31	49	35
Village	36	7	13	16	30	51	34
Reno	36	6	14	16	42	52	32