Wihdat retake lead as Shabab Urdun stumble

AMMAN — Wihdat will aim to capitalise on their lead, taking advantage of Shabab Urdun’s faltering when Week 9 of the 64th Jordan Professional Football League kicks off Sunday.

Wihdat beat Ahli 2-0 this week to climb back to the top spot ahead of their match against That Ras, who held Sarih 0-0.

Shabab Urdun seem set to lose more than their lead. The team was held 2-2 with Kufrsoum as the former champs now have more stumbling blocks to overcome. Financial issues and late payments of salaries prompted players to skip practice. Angered by players attitude at a crucial point in the competition, coaching staff submitted their resignations following which a meeting of club officials tried to get things on track ahead of Sunday’s match against Hussein Irbid. 

Club President Salim Kheir was quoted as saying “if players do not back down, then the U-18 and U-20 line-ups would represent the club in the rest of matches.’’

Meanwhile, former champs Faisali beat Jazira 1-0 to move up to third ahead of their match against Kufrsoum. Ramtha moved up to fourth after a 2-0 win over Baqa’a ahead of their match against Ahli, who dropped to sixth and next play Ramtha.

Hussein Irbid also moved up to fifth after a 2-0 win over Asala who next play Baqa’a for their first win while Jazira play Sarih.

So far this season, Jordan Cup titleholder Faisali beat league titleholders Wihdat 1-0 to win the 33rd Super Cup.

Wihdat have been league champions for the past two consecutive years. Apart from conceding the Super Cup, they were knockout out of the Jordan Cup as well this season.

League Standings 
(Last week’s position in parenthesis)