Jazira lead professional league

AMMAN  — Vital matches are ahead in Week 6 of the Jordan Professional Football League kicking off Friday with Jazira atop standings as rivals improved their positions during the past two weeks.

The past week saw teams take a break from the league as the Jordan Cup kicked off with Shabab Urdun beating Hussein and Faisali beating Ahli 2-1, Jazira upsetting Wihdat 3-1, Ramtha beating Sahab 4-0, That Ras scoring a 2-0 win over Sarih and Manshieh upsetting Baqa’a 3-2.

In the league, Jazira beat Hussein 5-2 to regain their lead and next play Baqa’a, who are 11th after their 2-1 defeat to Sahab. Shabab Urdun, who briefly took the lead on goal difference, are now second after their 3-2 loss to Ahli, and will next play Faisali in a decisive match for both. Faisali whose first win was 2-1 over Ahli last week have slowly improved up the standings and are now fifth after they beat That Ras 1-0. 

Ahli moved up to six spots to third after a 3-2 win over Shabab Urdun and next play Wihdat, who beat Manshieh 2-1 to move up to fourth. That Ras are last and next play 9th placed Sahab while Manshieh, who are 7th play Sarih.

The two neighbours from the north play on Friday with Hussein, who are now 6th, playing Ramtha, who beat Sarih 5-3 to move up a spot to 10th.

Jazira have so far scored three convincing wins over former champions Faisali, Wihdat and Shabab Urdun. Their striker Syrian Mardig Mardigian is league top scorer with four goals. 

On the other hand, traditional leading teams are in disarray and changes in coaching positions have taken their toll with disappointing results so far. Faisali removed Iraqi coach Tha’er Jassam, who came shortly after Jamal Abu Abed left the post at the start of the season. 

Meanwhile, the Jordan Football Association has moved towards more stringent regulations and fines in the past two weeks for unsportsmanlike conduct of fans or players.

New regulations will activate provisions banning team fans from attending matches and removing fans who cause problems from stadia. 

Faisali were fined JD1,000 following their match against Ahli, while Wihdat were fined JD800 and Hussein JD400. This followed heavy fines the week before after Ramtha fans caused damage at Amman International Stadium, which was recently fully renovated to host the U-17 Women’s World Cup. 

This season, Ahli made history when they beat reigning league champs Wihdat 2-1 to win the 34th Super Cup. In the Jordan Football Association Shield, Shabab Urdun scored a major 5-1 win over Faisali.