Scottland remain in front in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, but Hardrock are making sure the champions cannot relax with seven matches left to play.
Supporters following the run-in through 1xBet Zimbabwe now have two results to keep an eye on each matchday. Scottland lead the table with 57 points from 27 games, while Hardrock sit only three points behind them on 54.
Both sides won 2-1 at the weekend, although neither victory came without some pressure. Scottland needed a Knowledge Musona double to get past Simba Bhora, while Hardrock were trailing Hunters before turning the game around late on.
The results have tightened the focus at the top after Dynamos lost ground, leaving Scottland and Hardrock with a clear advantage going into the final seven rounds.
Musona puts Scottland back on track
Scottland travelled to Wadzanayi Stadium having gone two league matches without a win. Their previous outing had ended in a 1-1 draw with Dynamos, giving the chasing pack another chance to close the gap.
Musona made sure there would be no further slip against Simba Bhora.
The former Anderlecht forward opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Petrus Simaneka equalised for the hosts. Musona then restored Scottland's lead with a free-kick before half-time, and the champions protected the advantage after the break.
His two goals took him to 10 in the league this season and gave Scottland an important response at a stage when dropped points are becoming increasingly costly.
There is plenty of experience in the squad for this kind of finish. Scottland won the championship last season and have lost only twice in their first 27 matches of the current campaign.
The job is far from complete, though. A three-point advantage can disappear in one round, and Hardrock have shown little sign of falling away.
Hardrock find another late answer
Hardrock's afternoon at Rufaro Stadium looked very different for long periods.
Godfrey Dabgwa put Hunters ahead in the first half, leaving the visitors chasing the game against a side fighting near the other end of the table.
Washington Navaya eventually brought Hardrock level before Prince Dube struck in added time to complete the comeback and secure a 2-1 victory.
The win kept Kelvin Kaindu's team three points behind Scottland and added another chapter to an impressive first season in the Premier Soccer League.
Navaya has been central to that campaign. His goal against Hunters took him to 15 for the season, making him the league's leading scorer ahead of Scottland's Khama Billiat and Dynamos forward Frank Agyemang, who are both on 12.
Hardrock also have the strongest scoring record in the division. For a newly promoted club, their position this late in the season is no longer simply an encouraging start. They are in a genuine title race.
Kaindu has continued to play down the pressure on his squad, pointing instead to Scottland's status as defending champions. His team, however, are now close enough that every Scottland result matters to them.
Dynamos lose touch with the leading pair
Dynamos had been threatening to turn the battle at the top into a three-team race, helped by a long unbeaten run that carried them back towards the leaders.
That run ended against Chicken Inn.
Thulani Joseph scored the only goal at Rufaro Stadium as Chicken Inn won 1-0, bringing Dynamos' 15-match unbeaten league sequence to an end.
Combined with the earlier draw against Scottland, the defeat left Dynamos 11 points behind first place with seven matches remaining.
Mathematically they are not completely out of contention, but their position is now much more difficult. Scottland and Hardrock would both need to drop a significant number of points while Dynamos put together an almost perfect finish.
For the moment, the more immediate contest is between the top two.
Seven matches to decide the title
Scottland have the advantage and the experience of last season's championship behind them. Hardrock have spent much of the year exceeding expectations and are still close enough to take advantage of any mistake.
The weekend showed why the gap has remained so small.
Musona delivered when Scottland needed a response. Navaya and Dube did the same for Hardrock when their side appeared to be heading towards dropped points.
Seven matches remain for each club. Three points separate them.
After 27 rounds, Zimbabwe's title race has finally narrowed to two teams, but it is no closer to being settled.
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