Ramtha one match away from Jordan Pro League title

AMMAN — Ramtha are a match away from their first Jordan Professional Fooball League (Pro League) title in 39 years when the final week of the competition is played November 2-4.

Ramtha remained atop the standings with a 4-2 win over Shabab Urdun, and a win or draw against Jazira is enough to hand them the title they last celebrated in 1981 and 1982.

Titleholders Wihdat had an easier encounter beating Sahab 2-0 to trail two points behind, and next play Aqaba who managed to hold on to their spot in the Pro League.

Salt remained third after they held Faisali 1-1 as the latter remained fourth. Salt will next play Ma’an who are looking for a win or draw to improve their standings.

Wihdat stumbled in the past three weeks, especially when they were held 1-1 with Jazira and lost 3-2 to Shabab Urdun.  The latter will play Jalil who are looking for a win while hoping Ma’an lose to have a shot at staying in the Pro League.

Wihdat fans and ex-coaches are astonished after the team had two draws and a loss during the final stretch. The reigning champs have a shot at the title only in case they win and Ramtha lose. Similarly, Ramtha could have secured the title sooner had they not stumbled in their 2-0 loss to former champs Faisali when Wihdat drew 0-0 draw with Hussein. 

Hussein who will play Faisali this week are now fifth after they beat Baqa’a 2-1 while Aqaba moved up to 8th when they stunned Jazira 4-0. At the other end of the standings, Ma’an secured their place in the group after they beat Jalil 1-0 in a vital match to move up to 10th, as the latter is now likely to be the team to be relegated alongside Baqa’a who will face Sahab in their last match. 

Faisali and Ramtha led the standings in most of Leg 1. Jazira, who led throughout the league in the past two years, abandoned the fight for title and find themselves midway through the standings. 

This season, the Jordan Cup is still undecided with Wihdat, Hussein, Faisali having reached the semis. Salt, who were busy with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup matches, were the last to reach the semis after they overcame Ma’an. 

Earlier this season, Wihdat won their 14th title when they beat one-time winners Jazira in 38th Jordan Super Cup. In the 34th Jordan Football Association Shield, a newcomer to the Pro League, relatively unknown Jalil, overcame Wihdat to win the title. 

Regionally, Salt, who played their inaugural AFC Cup, were eliminated by Kuwait FC in the semifinals of the West Asia Zone while Faisali were knocked out in the group stages. Wihdat played Group D of the Asian Champions League but were knocked out in the first round. 

Last season, Wihdat won their 17th league title while Jazira finished runner-up, leaving Ramtha third and former champs Faisali settled for fifth after Salt. Sarih dropped alongside eight-time league champ veterans Ahli who were also relegated last decade but came back to win the Jordan Cup in 2015 and also played in the AFC. Jalil and Baqa’a joined the 12-club Pro League this year. Wihdat also won their 10th JFA Shield. Faisali overcame Jazira to win their 17th Jordan Super Cup as the Jordan Cup was scrapped from the agenda for the first time since the competition kicked off in 1980.

Since the league kicked off in 1944 with only Faisali, Ahli, Urdun and Homenetmen competing, Faisali are 34 time record league champs while Wihdat won 17 times since they joined in 1980. Although Faisali are the all-time record titleholders, Wihdat’s record is quite impressive, winning their first title in 1980 and going on to win the majority of titles since then. Ahli won eight times, Jazira three times, Ramtha and Shabab Urdun twice each, Amman and Urdun clubs once each.