Sports

AMMAN ––   The men's Olympic team plays Sri Lanka on Saturday in their third match at the Palestine International Championship. Jordan lost to Palestine 1-0 in the opening match, but bounced back to beat Pakistan 1-0 to take third spot for now. Palestine and Pakistan beat Sri Lanka  3-0. The top two teams will play for the title on May 19.

AMMAN   ––  The race for the  Jordan Professional League is nearly over as teams head into Week 20 kicking off on Friday.

Wihdat widened their lead to 6 points this week after a 4-0 drubbing of holders Shabab Urdun. They will next play Hussein Irbid and hope to consolidate their lead and secure the title early on.

Closest rival Faisali let go of their chance to win the title when they are held 0-0 with Jazireh. If they draw or lose in their upcoming match against Sarih,  Wihdat will secure the title.

After a 1-1 draw with Shabab Urdun,  That Ras again drew 2-2 with Baqaa and remain in contention for third place. They will play Arabi  while closest rival Jazira play Shabab Urdun.

Baqaa are also hoping to play for third place and next play Manshieh while Ramtha who were held with Sarih 1-1  play Sheikh Hussein who have been relegated.

Manshieh striker Mohammad Abdul Halim took over the top scorers list with 10 goals followed by Baqaa's Adnan Suleiman and Ramtha's Hamza Dardour with 9 and Shabab Urdun's Issa Sabbah and Sarih's Osama Abu Tuimeh with 8 each.

This week, Jordan Cup holders That Ras ended their participation in the Asian Football Confederation Cup after bowing out of the Round of 16, losing 4-0 to Kuwait's Qadissieh. Shabab Urdun bowed out of the first round.

Both teams had matches postponed due to the their participation in the AFC Cup.

Jordan Cup quarterfinal matches have restarted. Shabab Urdun beat Hussein Irbid 2-0 on Wednesday. That Ras, who held Wihdat 1-1, have their return leg match on May 27 when Shabab Urdun play Hussein.

MADRID –– La Liga is set for one of its most thrilling finishes when Barcelona host leaders Atletico Madrid in a winner-takes-all showdown at the Nou Camp on the final day of the campaign on Saturday.

Only twice in the history of Spain’s top flight has the title been decided with a direct head-to-head clash on the last day and when the calendar was set last year few would have expected Atletico to be competing with vastly wealthier rivals Barca for the championship at this stage.

Real Madrid, the world’s richest club by income ahead of Barca, were in contention until last weekend when they were beaten at Celta Vigo but it is the capital’s second club, who have about a quarter of the resources of the big two, who are close to pulling off a remarkable achievement.

Atletico have not been in contention in La Liga since they last won in 1996, tasting relegation at the start of this century, but are now in with a chance of claiming an historic La Liga and European double.

Whatever the outcome of Saturday’s game, thoughts will immediately turn to the following week’s Champions League final against Real in Lisbon, when Atletico will be looking to win their first continental crown and deny their glamorous neighbours a record-extending 10th.

“We have a historic chance to win two titles and we are proud because we have won over a lot of people with our passion and excitement,” Atletico captain Gabi said at a promotional event on Wednesday.

“A lot of people want us to win and this team has shown an identity that we haven’t seen for a very long time,” added the midfielder, who has flourished under coach Diego Simeone and whose consistency has been key to Atletico’s recent success.

“We have to keep doing the same we have been doing all season, intensity and confidence.”

After 37 matches in La Liga, Atletico are top on 89 points, with Barca on 86 and Real on 84.

If Barca, chasing a fifth title in six years, beat Atletico on Saturday they will be champions as they would have a better head-to-head record after the title rivals drew 0-0 at the Calderon in Madrid in January.

A draw would be enough for Atletico to become the first side other than Real and Barca to win La Liga since Valencia in 2004.

The last time the title was decided with a head-to-head clash was in 1950-51, when Atletico pipped Sevilla. The only other occasion was five years earlier when Sevilla edged Barca.

AMMAN — The first international youth football tournament COPA Coca Cola in Jordan kicks off on Friday and continues through May 24, with the participation of more than 640 students representing 64 public schools from around the Kingdom, organiser said Wednesday. The tournament will give the chance for Jordanian football enthusiasts to represent the Kingdom in Coca Cola’s grassroots football tournament FIFA World Cup 2022, which will be held in Qatar. Ezel Agoglu, general manager of Coca Cola Bottling Company in Jordan, told reporters the Jordan tournament is held in partnership with the Education Ministry. Neman Othaibat, an official at the ministry said the tournament will be held at Al Hussein College, Petra Stadium and in Marka.

AMMAN ––  There will be no Jordanian teams playing for this year’s 11th Asian Football Confederation Cup (AFC) title after That Ras lost to Kuwait’s Qadissieh 4-0 late Tuesday evening. That Ras were hoping to advance beyond this round in their first time on the AFC scene. However the team appeared unsteady and were down 3-0 by halftime. Jordan Cup holders That Ras had lost only one match in Round 1, finishing second in Group A. They scored a 1-0 win over Oman’s Suweiq and held Suweiq 0-0, lost 1-0 to Lebanon’s Safaa before a 0-0 draw and beat Tajikistan’s  Ravshan 5-1  and 3-2.  In other Round of 16 matches, Bahrain’s Al Hidd beat Lebanon’s Safaa 1-0, Indonesia’s Persipura Jayapura beat Myanmar’s Yangon United 9-2, while Vietnam’s Vissai Ninh Binh  beat India’s Churchill Brothers SC 4-2. 

DEAD SEA –– Qatar is determined to organise the “best” World Cup despite the negative headlines and rumours over hosting the world’s biggest football event by the Gulf nation, Nasser Al Khater, the media and marketing director of the Qatar organising committee, said on Tuesday.

In an exclusive interview with The Jordan Times Tuesday, Khater said described negative media reports on various issues such as bad treatment of workers and bribery rumours to win the right to host the 2022 World Cup as attacks that would make Qatar stronger to deliver the “best” World Cup.

“We are aware of all the controversies and reports which are written by people who are trying to make us weak and who do not have the absolute truth but this only makes us stronger and determined to organise the best World Cup,” said Al Khater, who was taking part in the Soccerex Asian Forum that was held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre in the Dead Sea on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Of course there are challenges and we are aware of that but we have an excellent plan that will include all aspects of hosting a distinguished World Cup,” he added.

Al Khater dismissed reports regarding deaths of workers in construction sites of stadiums.

“These reports are untrue and baseless. So far we have completed one stadium and only 200 workers are involved in this mission so how come they say hundreds died of poor conditions. Qatar has a proven record of practising the best safety measures whether in gas plants or any other related fields,” he said.

“On the contrary we care about our workers because they will make us proud after the work is done and that is why we provide them with the best conditions and support,” he added.

Meanwhile, and regarding the issue whether to organise the World Cup in summer or move it to winter due to hot temperature during summer, Al Khater said that Qatar would be ready whether in summer or winter.

“We, as a nation, are ready to host it in summer or winter and whatever FIFA decides we will comply. We are building stadiums using the highest technology,” he said. 

Al Khater stressed that the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee name was changed to Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy “due to the fact that the earlier name stats Qatar 2022 which is related to the World Cup but our vision is for what comes after the World Cup and we need to focus on our legacy”.

The Soccerex Asian Forum is held under the patronage of HRH Prince Ali, FIFA Vice President and President of the Jordan Football Association. 

AMMAN –– Postponed matches of the Jordan Cup quarter-finals will resume when Shabab Urdun play Hussein on Wednesday. That Ras held Wihdat 1-1 and have their return leg postponed till May 27 due to the their participation in the AFC Cup. So far in the Jordan Cup, Ramtha moved to the semis after eliminating Faisali. They lost 1-0 and won by the same score before advancing 5-4 on penalties. Baqaa beat Sheikh Hussein 5-2 and 2-0 to advance. 

DEAD SEA –– Hundreds of leading Asian and global football officials and experts gathered in Jordan on Tuesday to discuss the opportunities and challenges for the future of the game in Asia. 

Held on the eastern shores of the Dead Sea, the Soccerex Asian Forum started its meetings with sessions that focused on solutions to develop football in the continent, which is home to nearly one-third of the world’s footballers live in Asia. 

HRH Prince Ali, FIFA Vice President representing Asia and President of the Jordan Football Association, said that although football in Asia presents positive opportunities for growth and development, calling on participating figures and companies to work together as the continent still holds “untapped” potential for growth. 

 “The potential is tremendous and we are here to tap into it. We can do it if we work together positively,” Prince Ali said. 

Four FIFA World Cups to be hosted in Asia in the coming years such as the U17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan, U17 Men’s World Cup in India in 2017, U20 Men’s World Cup in South Korea in 2017 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he explained. 

Prince Ali noted that the legacy of these World Cups begins now at the time when the revenues from football are at their highest.

“There is no better time to invest in our youth, support women’s football and activate our social responsibility. And to do that, collectively, we must cooperate and exchange ideas and experiences and address the challenges together.”   

He noted that we must engage all stakeholders, member associations, football NGOs, clubs, leagues, confederations, media and the global sports business community in the development of the game. 

Soccerex is being held for the first time in the Kingdom, where football legends and experts will continue their debates on Wednesday. 

Soccerex Chairman Tony Martin noted that these events provide unique opportunity for football parties and representatives to meet face to face. 

“In Jordan today we are engaging with the whole continent,” he added.  

He said Soccerex involvement in Asia began some 12 years ago when they were asked to contribute to the development of the sport in Asia. 

Soccerex is the Global Leader for the Football Business, with events all over the world. Our flagship event, the Soccerex Global Convention, brings together businesses of all sizes that work in the football industry, as well as many of football’s current stars and legends of the game.

“In Soccerex, we showcase the beautiful game of football to the commercial world,” he added. 

The forum is being organised in partnership with the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), an Amman-based non-profit youth commission that was founded by Prince Ali.

During the first day of the forum, participants took part in debates through several sessions targeting a number of issues related to Asia. 

Topics such as the future in Asia, women’s football in Asia and Qatar’s preparations for the World Cup that will be held in 2022 were also discussed.

MADRID — Atletico Madrid and Barcelona will play a La Liga title decider at the Nou Camp Stadium next weekend after the front runners drew on Sunday to set up one of the most dramatic finishes in Spain's top flight for more than 60 years.

On a day of nerve-jangling tension, when leaders Atletico came desperately close to a late goal that would have clinched the championship, the Madrid club had to come from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Malaga while second-placed Barca were held to a 0-0 stalemate at Elche.

Real Madrid dropped out of the title race when they suffered a surprise 2-0 loss at Celta Vigo that left them five points behind their city rivals with one game remaining.

Atletico are top on 89 points from 37 matches, with Barca on 86 and Real, who were missing key players through injury including top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, on 84.

If Barca beat Atletico next Sunday they will be champions as they would have a better head-to-head record after the title rivals drew 0-0 at the Calderon in Madrid in January.

A draw would be enough for Atletico to secure their first domestic league title since 1996, when current coach Diego Simeone was in the team, and become the first side other than Spain's wealthy big two to win La Liga since Valencia in 2004.

The title has only twice been decided with a winner-takes-all clash on the final day and not since 1951 when Atletico pipped Sevilla.

"If they had told us at the start of the season that we would get to the final day at the Nou Camp with a three-point lead over Barca nobody would have believed it," Atletico coach Diego Simeone told a news conference.

"Now it's 50-50, like in any final," added the Argentine, whose side are also through to the Champions League final to face Real Madrid in Lisbon on May 24.

"Our rivals are used to these moments. We are humble and what this team has done is incredible, it has cost a huge amount of effort and we hope it all comes together next Sunday."

Samuel Sanchez gave Malaga a shock lead 25 minutes from time at Atletico's packed Calderon Stadium, where the fans have been enjoying the club's best season in years.

Toby Alderweireld levelled for the home side in the 74th minute and Adrian came close to a winner in stoppage time but was denied by a brilliant save from Willy Caballero.

At Elche's Martinez Valero arena in Alicante, Barca created plenty of chances but, as so often this season, they failed to take them.

Barca's bid for a fifth La Liga title in six seasons remains alive despite consecutive draws as Atletico again failed to take advantage of their stumble.

"When you start missing chances so early in the game your feelings of patience start to turn into desperation," Barca coach Gerardo Martino told a news conference.

"I don't know if we were lacking anything but we did everything we could to win."

Real's faint hopes of pipping Atletico and Barca to the title were extinguished when a Charles double either side of halftime condemned them to a defeat that ended their chances of a Champions League, La Liga and King's Cup treble.

As well as Ronaldo, who was rested as a precaution, coach Carlo Ancelotti was without Gareth Bale, midfielder Angel Di Maria and defenders Pepe and Dani Carvajal.

Ancelotti said Real had lost some of their intensity since thumping Bayern Munich 5-0 on aggregate to secure their place in the final of Europe's elite club competition.

"We have lost this league and it's the first competition we have lost so we cannot be pleased," Ancelotti, whose side beat Barca to win the King's Cup last month, told a news conference.

"We have to look forward now because there is another very important game," added the Italian, also in his first season in Spain. "Now we have to look at where we went wrong and try to get our energy and the injured players back for the final."

TURIN — Sevilla will be Benfica's opponents on the field in Wednesday's Europa League final, yet many of the Portuguese team's fans believe that other forces will be at work as they attempt to win their first European trophy for 52 years.

After winning the old European Cup in 1961 and 1962, Benfica have gone on to play in seven more European finals and lost them all, a run of failures which many blame on the so-called "curse of Bela Guttmann".

Guttmann was the Hungarian coach who led Benfica to their two European Cup wins, but on leaving the club in acrimonious circumstances he declared: "Benfica will not win another European final without me".

Lo and behold, Benfica went on to lose finals to AC Milan (1963), Inter Milan (1965) and Manchester United (1968).

Guttmann died in 1981, yet the run of defeats continued as they lost further European Cup finals to PSV Eindhoven (1988) and AC Milan (1990), and UEFA/Europa league finals to Anderlecht (1983) and Chelsea last year.

The late Eusebio famously prayed at Guttmann's grave in Vienna, asking in vain for the curse to be broken, and in February, the club unveiled a statue of Guttmann in front of the Stadium of Light, something many observers saw as another attempt to break it.

Underneath the statue is a quote from Guttmann himself which reads: "Only those of us inside Benfica know what mystique really is. There is no other club in the world with a mystique like Benfica's".

Coach Jorge Jesus, however, said that experience, hard work and tactics would decide the final at the Juventus Stadium.

"I'm not superstitious," he told reporters. "I believe in people's value and the quality of their work. I believe that the best team does not always win in a final and I also believe that we can be better than Sevilla and win this match.

"It's the second time we are in one of these finals. We have a better idea of how to deal with the anxiety."

Sevilla, on the other hand, have played in two European finals and won them both, beating Middlesbrough in the 2006 UEFA Cup final and Espanyol the following year.

"We all thought that Juventus would win this championship. We all know about Benfica and their potential and we've seen that they have knocked out Juventus and Tottenham along the way," Sevilla coach Unai Emery said, suggesting that his side were underdogs.

Fifth in La Liga, Sevilla have had a long, nerve-wracking 18-match route to the final which began at home to Montenegro's Mladkost Podgorica on August 1.

They won a penalty shootout to beat neighbours Real Betis in the round of 16 and then scored an injury-time goal to beat fellow Spaniards Valencia on away goals in the semi-finals.

Benfica parachuted into the competition's knockout stage after being knocked out of the Champions League, something which many feel devalues the Europa League. They have played only eight matches in the competition and are unbeaten.

Benfica have bounced back from a disastrous end to last season, when they lost the Europa League final, Portuguese Cup final and were pipped by Porto for the league title, and are on course for a domestic treble.

The Eagles, who boast a large contingent of South American players, have already won the league and League Cup.

"We are in the final on merit and we deserve everything that is happening to us," said Jesus, who barely survived last season's collapse and is now lauded as one of the country's top coaches.