Faisali to face Salt in final of Jordan Cup

AMMAN — Salt take on veterans Faisali in the final of the Jordan Cup on Thursday, ending the local 2021 football calendar.

Faisali’s 3-1 win over rivals Wihdat in the semifinals reinvigorated fans after their team failed to win any local competition this year. It was the same for Salt, who finished third in the Jordan Professional Football League (Pro League) and have reached the final after they beat Hussein 2-0 in the semifinals.

This season, Salt, who played their inaugural Asian Football Confederation Cup, were eliminated by Kuwait FC in the semifinals of the West Asia Zone while Faisali were knocked out in the group stages. 

Salt, like other clubs, mainly Jazira, who struggled through the season and have huge debts, have been going through financial difficulties. Salt were reported to have been unable to pay their coaching staff for almost a year. With a short season and no fans attending during last year’s COVID-19 crisis and the inability of clubs to get sponsors, officials hope good performances and titles will mark a turnaround.

The Jordan Cup initially brought together Second and Third Division clubs playing to advance winners who joined First Division and Pro League teams in the second stage. There were interesting results such as Sahab reaching the quarters after eliminating Shabab Urdun and Faisali ousting Ramtha in key matches in the Round of 16. On their way to the semis, Wihdat beat Jazira, Hussein ousted Aqaba, Faisali eliminated Sahab on penalties while Salt eliminated Ma’an. 

This season, local competitions saw Ramtha win the Pro League title for the third time in their history ending a 39 year drought. Ramtha only secured the title they last won in 1981 and 1982 in the final week of the competition edging out then titleholders Wihdat who settled for second place, as Salt remained third, followed by Faisali, Hussein, Shabab Urdun, Jazira, Aqaba, Sahab and Ma’an while Jalil were relegated alongside Baqa’a who had their worst season yet.

Earlier in this season, a newcomer to the Pro League, relatively unknown Jalil, overcame Wihdat to win the 34th Jordan Football Association (JFA) Shield. Wihdat beat one-time winners Jazira in the 38th Jordan Super Cup. Regionally, Wihdat played Group D of the Asian Champions League but was knocked out in the first round.