Ramtha come head to head with ambitious Jazira

AMMAN  — Leading teams need to start securing their top spots while others needs to score some wins to move away from relegation zone, as Week 15 of the Jordan Professional Football League kicks off  on Thursday.

Wihdat share the lead with Ramtha. They were held 2-2 with Faisali in a match marred by unsportsmanlike conduct of fans. Many observers pointed out that the Jordan Football Association (JFA)  decisions of a minimal fine and playing their upcoming match without fans were not enough to stop deteriorating sporting spirit, violence and damage of public property at stadia.

Wihdat next play Hussein who scored an important 2-1 win over Jazira to move up two spots. Ramtha are second on goal difference after a 1-0 win over Yarmouk. They next play a vital match against Jazira who lost two competition finals this season.

Faisali next play Shabab Urdun who beat That Ras 2-0, while Ahli who beat Manshieh 2-1 play Aqaba who were held 3-3 with Baqa’a play Yarmouk and need to win to move away from the relegation zone. Manshieh have the same aim when they play That Ras.

This week, both Jazira and Faisali started the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup and were held to draws, Jazira were held 2-2 with the Iraqi Air Force Club in Group A, which includes Oman’s Suweiq and Bahrain’s Malikieh. On the other hand, Faisali held Syria’s Wihdeh by the same score in Group C, which includes Oman’s Dhofar and Lebanon’s Ansar. The top teams from each group in addition to the best second placed team will move to the second round of the second-tier Asian club competition.

Last week, Faisali lost their 2018 AFC Champions League play-off match to Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi 5-1 and failed to reach the group stages of Asia’s elite club competition. 

So far this season, reigning League and Jordan Cup champs Faisali beat Jazira to win the 35th Jordan Super Cup. Wihdat beat Jazira to win the JFA Shield. In the Jordan Cup, Jazira ousted Faisali while Shabab Urdun eliminated Wihdat to reach the final.

Last season, Faisali won their 33rd league title along with the Jordan Cup. Ahli beat Wihdat to win the Super Cup, Shabab Urdun beat Faisali to win the Shield title.