Jordan Professional Football League teams start Week 13

By Aline Bannayan - Feb 16,2017 - Last updated at Feb 16,2017

AMMAN — The Jordan Professional Football League resumed on Thursday as Week 13 kicked off with teams making big changes on position midway through the standings.

Jazira now only have a one point lead atop the standings after their 1-1 draw with Faisali who dropped to fourth. Jazira is scheduled to play Shabab Urdun on Friday. The latter scored a vital 2-0 win over Sahab last week to move up to fifth, while Faisali next play Ramtha who are 8th after a goalless draw with Ahli.

Wihdat who were held 0-0 with last placed Baqa’a next play 9th placed Sahab. Manshieh who moved up to third after a 2-0 win over That Ras next play Ahli and Sarih, who held Hussein 1-1, next take on Baqa’a while Hussein go up against That Ras.

Manshieh who joined the pro league this season with Sahab have tipped the balance and are now in third place. Fans are unhappy with Ramtha, Ahli and Shabab Urdun further down the standings with inconsistent results. Former Jordan Cup champ That Ras are going through financial strains and are now in the relegation zone together with Baqa’a who are usually among the upper half of standings. Jazira’s Syrian pro Mardig Mardigian still leads the top scorers list with nine goals.

Wihdat are looking to win their fourth consecutive and 16th overall title, while Faisali have not won the league in the past four years and eyeing their 33rd record title.

Ahli won the first major competition on the 2016/17 football calendar, making history when they beat reigning league champs Wihdat 2-1 to win the 34th Super Cup. In the Jordan Football Association Shield — back on the calendar after four years — Shabab Urdun scored a major 5-1 win over Faisali. It was Shabab Urdun’s second Shield title after they first won in 2007.

In the Jordan Cup, four teams had made it to the semis in which Wihdat will face Faisali, while Ramtha play Jazira on May 12 and 16 before playing the final on May 20.

Last season, Wihdat retained the title with Faisali, Ahli, Jazira and Shabab Urdun in top five spots. It was Wihdat’s third consecutive and 15th league title since they moved up to the Professional League in 1975. Faisali beat Wihdat to clinch the Super Cup while it was Ahli, who after years in the backstage, beat Shabab Urdun to win their first Jordan Cup final.