Professional league gets into high gear after slow start

AMMAN — Week 4 of the 64th Jordan Professional Football League (PFL) starts this weekend, with teams seeking to capitalise on gains made last week after a three week break.

Wihdat are still in the lead and will next play Hussein Irbid on Saturday. After conceding the Super Cup to Faisali earlier this season and being knockout of the Jordan Cup, Wihdat aim to maintain momentum and retain the league title for the third year running.

Faisali will play Shabab Urdun in a much anticipated match on Friday, while second place Jazira play Ahli, hoping to win and maintain their advanced position early in the league. 

Last week, all teams saw changes on their standings — apart from newcomers Asala and champions Wihdat. 

Wihdat beat former champs Shabab Urdun 3-0 and secured their lead, Jazira held Baqaa 0-0 and moved to second, Sarih held Ramtha and moved to third, Faisali held Asala 1-1 and moved to 5th, Kufrsoum scored their first win and beat Hussein Irbid 5-1 to jump to 7th, and Ahli scored their first win beating That Ras 1-0 to move up to 9th.

In the kick-off of the local football season, Faisali beat league champs Wihdat 1-0 to win the 33rd Super Cup. It was a much-needed win for reigning Jordan Cup champs Faisali after a disappointing 7th place finish in the league last season.

Wihdat have been league champions for the past two years. Last year, they also won the Super Cup while Faisali won the Jordan Cup title. Last season, the league runner-up and third places went to Jazira and Ramtha.

Players and fans are upbeat this week after the national team resumed Group B qualifiers of the 2018 World Cup doubling as part of the qualification for 2019 Asian Cup. Jordan beat Australia 2-0 and Tajikistan 3-0, and beat Iraq in a friendly 3-0.

Jordan now leads the group after it beat Tajikistan 3-1, scored a 4-0 win over lowly Bangladesh and were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw with Kyrgyzstan. It will play Kyrgyzstan on November 17 in the return leg.

Teams also played the knockout Jordan Cup Round of 16 where four Division 1 teams — Turra, Balaama, Arabi and Sheikh Hussein — qualified to join JFL teams.

Reigning Jordan Cup champs Faisali ousted Sarih 2-1, Ahli upstaged Wihdat 1-0, Turra upset Ramtha 5-3 on penalties, Jazira beat Asala 2-1, Hussein eliminated Baqaa 3-2 on penalties, That Ras ousted Arabi 1-0, Kufrsoum beat Sheikh Hussein 2-0 and Shabab Urdun defeated Balaama 5-0.

League Standings

(Last week’s position in parenthesis)