Wihdat lead; Baqaa seek to take second place

AMMAN –– Wihdat have a chance to consolidate their lead atop the standings when they play 11th-placed Arabi as Week 18 of the Jordan Professional League kicks off on Thursday.

Despite drawing 0-0 with Baqaa last week, Wihdat are still in the lead, thanks to other similar results like Faisali's 1-1 draw with Ramtha. Faisali trail four points behind and next play holders Shabab Urdun, who drew 1-1 with Arabi.

Baqaa remained third last week and next play Hussein Irbid, who climbed two spots after a 5-0 drubbing of Sheikh Hussein. The latter has officially been relegated and next play That Ras, who are now fifth after a 0-0 draw with Sarih.

That Ras have lost their third spot and next play Shabab Urdun in a postponed match. The Jordan Cup holders were busy on the Asian scene moving to Round 16 of the Asian Football Confederation Cup after finishing second in Group A, while Shabab Urdun bowed out of the first round after finishing third in Group D.

Jazira beat Manshieh last week to go up two spots to fourth ahead of their match against Ramtha, who dropped to sixth. 

Other matches will see Sarih play Manshieh, who lost 1- 0 to Jazira, and Sheikh Hussein against That Ras.

Ramtha's Hamza Dardour took over the top scorer list with nine goals, followed by Baqaa's Adnan Suleiman with eight, and Manshieh striker Mohammad Abdul Halim and Shabab Urdun's Issa Sabbah with seven goals.