Ramtha seek to take lead as Faisali, Jazira come head-to-head

AMMAN — Ramtha will seek to take the lead atop the Jordan Professional Football League standings when they face newcomers Aqaba, while former champs Wihdat have a tougher match against Shabab Urdun as week 13 kicks off on Thursday.

As Leg 2 resumed last week, Wihdat maintained their lead on goal difference after a 3-1 win over That Ras. Ramtha remained second after a 1-0 over Manshieh, while Jazira, who are third after losing to Wihdat in Leg 1, beat Shabab Urdun 1-0 and next play Faisali, who are fourth after a 2-0 win over Yarmouk.

Ahli who were the only team to improve last week, went up two spots to 6th after their 2-0 win over Baqa’a next face That Ras.

This week, Faisali lost their 2018 Asian Football Confederation (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. They will now play the AFC Cup — the second-tier Asian club competition alongside Jazira. 

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 Jordan Football Association (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 after a four year break and combined it with the Jordan Cup. Ahli beat reigning league champs Wihdat to win the Super Cup, while Shabab Urdun beat Faisali to win their second Shield title after they first won in 2007. Sarih and Sahab were relegated and replaced by Aqaba and Yarmouk from the First Division.