Jazira lose in Jordan Cup, still lead league

AMMAN — Jazira maintained their leading heading into the final week of 2016 as Week 9 of the Jordan Professional Football League kicks off Friday. 

Jazira beat That Ras 4-0 to stay six points clear of all-time rivals Wihdat and Faisali who remained second and third after Wihdat scored a 3-2 win over Shabab Urdun while Faisali beat Sarih 1-0. 

In the upcoming week, Jazira play Ramtha, who beat Sahab 2-1 to move to 8th while Wihdat take on That Ras and Faisali are up against Hussein Irbid, who held Ahli 2-2.

Manshieh climbed to fourth after a 2-0 win over Baqa’a ahead of their upcoming match against Sahab. Ahli, who are now 6th, next play last placed Baqa’a as Shabab Urdun take on Sarih.

Jazira have so far scored three convincing wins over former champions Faisali, Wihdat and Shabab Urdun. Jazira’s Syrian pro Mardig Mardigian leads the scorers list with six goals. 

Meanwhile, in Round 3 of the Jordan Cup this week, Hussein upset Jazira 3-2, Wihdat beat That Ras 3-0, Faisali beat Baqa’a 1-0, Ramtha beat Manshieh 1-0, Sahab held Ahli 1-1 and Shabab Urdun beat Sarih 2-0. Round 4 resumes on January 9.

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.

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.