Battle for Jordan Cup title nears as semifinals approach

AMMAN  — The Jordan Cup semis conclude on Monday as teams battle to reach the final match of the second event of the season.

Ahli upstaged titleholders Faisali 1-0 in Leg 1 and will aim to continue their impressive form and reach the final. A long-time veteran and founder of the game in Jordan, Ahli were relegated to Division 1 in 2004 for the first time in their history. They were back among the Pro League clubs in 2014, finished 5th in 2015 and now the team are leading the Premier League after they beat Faisali and Shabab Urdun 2-1 last week and seem in position to aim for the title as well.

In the other semifinal, two-time winners Shabab Urdun will seek to beat Jazira as they did 1-0 in Leg 1 of the semis. 

After the elimination of leading contenders Wihdat, Ramtha, and Baqa’a in the Round of 16, now Ahli, Shabab Urdun, Cup title-holders Faisali and Jazira remain in the race for the title. In the quarters,  Shabab Urdun beat Hussein 3-1, Faisali beat Kufrsoum 3-0, Ahli ousted Turra 2-0 and Jazira overcame That Ras 3-2. In Leg 1, Hussein tied Shabab Urdun 1-1, Jazira beat That Ras 3-0, Faisali beat Kufrsoum 1-0 and Ahli defeated Turra 3-0. 

Four Division 1 teams — Turra, Bala’ama, Arabi and Sheikh Hussein — were eliminated in the preliminary knockout round, where reigning Jordan Cup champs Faisali ousted Sarih, Ahli upstaged Wihdat, Turra upset Ramtha, Jazira beat Asala, Hussein eliminated Baqa’a 3, That Ras ousted Arabi, Kufrsoum beat Sheikh and Shabab Urdun defeated Bala’ama.

Faisali have already secured one title beating league and Super Cup title-holders Wihdat 1-0 to clinch the 33rd Super Cup. League champs in the past two editions, Wihdat only have the league title in contention after being eliminated from the Jordan Cup as well. 

Jordan Cup record 
(Runner- up in parenthesis)