Amman — Al-Faisaly strengthened their position at the top of the Jordan Professional League standings, reaching 13 points after thrashing Al-Ramtha 4-1 at Amman International Stadium on Wednesday, in the final match of the fifth round. Al-Ramtha remained on eight points.
اضافة اعلان
Malek Allan scored for Al-Faisaly in the 13th minute, followed by Majdi Al-Attar in the 54th, Maradona in the 86th and Ahmad Al-Ersan in the first minute of stoppage time. Al-Ramtha’s only goal came in the 63rd minute, when a corner kick taken by Mohammad Khalil slipped through Al-Faisaly goalkeeper Nour Bani Attia’s hands and into the net.
In the other match of the round, Al-Wehdat took an important step in their pursuit of the leaders by defeating defending champions Al-Hussein 1-0. Hamza Al-Naim scored the winner in the 22nd minute at King Abdullah II Stadium in Al-Quwaismeh.
The victory lifted Al-Wehdat to eight points, level with Al-Jazeera, Al-Buqaa and Al-Ramtha, while Al-Hussein remained on five points.
Al-Faisaly 4, Al-Ramtha 1
Al-Faisaly coach Tarek Mustafa fielded Nour Bani Attia in goal, with Ahmad Abdulrabbeh, Saido Simbori, Nour Al-Rawabdeh, Majdi Al-Attar, Anas Al-Awadat, Ghaith Al-Madadha, Gian Ahwa, Anas Badawi, Ihsan Haddad and Malek Allan.
Al-Ramtha coach Radion Gasanin started with Murad Al-Falouji in goal, alongside Abdulrahman Al-Drayseh, Yousef Hassan, Mohammad Al-Bitar, Hussein Al-Rashdan, Abdullah Al-Mneis, Aziz Ousseni, Mohammad Khalil, Al-Fousini Gassama, Serge Badjo and Saif Darwish.
Al-Faisaly needed just 13 minutes to open the scoring. Malek Allan received a pass from teammate Anas Al-Awadat that left him unmarked in front of goal, and he placed the ball to the left of Al-Falouji to put his team ahead.
Al-Awadat nearly doubled the lead in the 25th minute with a low shot from a set piece, but Al-Falouji turned it behind for a corner.
Al-Ramtha responded with quick attacks in search of an equaliser. Darwish fired a shot from inside the penalty area in the 22nd minute, which Bani Attia diverted for a corner. Ousseni followed with a low effort in the 32nd minute, but the goalkeeper dealt with it.
A mistake by Al-Falouji nearly cost Al-Ramtha a second goal. He passed the ball to Ahwa, who failed to control it properly and sent his attempt over the bar with the goal unguarded in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Al-Faisaly went into the break leading 1-0.
Al-Ramtha began the second half on the attack. In the opening seconds, Gassama found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a defensive error by Abdulrabbeh, but Bani Attia intervened to deny him.
Al-Faisaly’s composure, organised positioning and varied attacking options then allowed them to extend their lead. Majdi Al-Attar received a pass from Ahwa and placed the ball to the left of Al-Falouji, making it 2-0 in the 55th minute.
The goal spurred Al-Ramtha into more attacking moves. They reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute when Mohammad Khalil’s corner took Bani Attia by surprise. The goalkeeper failed to gather the ball cleanly, allowing it to find the net. It was Al-Faisaly’s first goal conceded in the competition after keeping four consecutive clean sheets.
Al-Faisaly responded with organised attacks, combining team play with individual skill. Al-Awadat unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area in the 77th minute, but Al-Falouji pushed it away.
Ahmad Al-Ersan missed a chance to extend the lead in the 79th minute after receiving a pass from Haddad inside the penalty area while unmarked in front of goal, but he inexplicably sent his effort wide.
Al-Faisaly scored their third goal in the 86th minute. A well-placed cross from the impressive Al-Awadat was parried by Al-Falouji, and Maradona followed up to score.
Despite Al-Ramtha’s attempts to mount a late comeback, Al-Ersan had the final say. He rose to head home a cross from Anas Badawi in the first minute of stoppage time, sealing a commanding 4-1 victory for Al-Faisaly.
Al-Wehdat 1, Al-Hussein 0
The match unfolded as a tactical contest, with Al-Wehdat’s head coach selecting Mohammad Al-Amwasi in goal, alongside Arafat Al-Haj, Taitai, Mustafa Kamal, Shawqi Al-Qazaa, Fadi Awad, Mohammad Al-Dawoud, Ahmad Sabra, Mohammad Mawali, Hamza Al-Naim and Jimmy Sayaj. Al-Amwasi was later replaced by Ahmad Arabash due to injury.
On the other side, Al-Hussein’s Spanish head coach Torres fielded Yazeed Abu Laila, Pedro Henrique, Abdullah Naseeb, Ahmad Assaf, Ali Hajabi, Yousef Abu Al-Jazar, Mahmoud Shawkat, Yousef Qushi, Aref Al-Haj, Mohammad Riyahi and Masoud Juma. Ahmad Al-Salman replaced Yousef Abu Al-Jazar.
The tactical battle between the two coaches was evident. Al-Wehdat relied on collective play, defensive organisation and smooth passing as they searched for gaps in Al-Hussein’s defence. Al-Hussein, meanwhile, varied their attacking approach and sought to control possession.
Al-Hussein created the first serious threats, with Riyahi unleashing a powerful shot that Al-Amwasi saved confidently. The goalkeeper also produced an excellent stop to deny a shot from Masoud Juma.
Al-Wehdat focused on closing down space and tightly marking Al-Hussein’s key players, while moving forward as a unit and maintaining their tactical discipline. This allowed them to contain Al-Hussein’s possession for much of the first half.
Al-Wehdat then took the lead in the 22nd minute. Mohammad Al-Dawoud delivered an excellent ball into Al-Hussein’s penalty area, where Hamza Al-Naim rose to head it firmly into the net.
Al-Hussein sought an equaliser, but Abdullah Naseeb’s header following a scramble after a corner was gathered by Al-Amwasi. The goalkeeper later went off injured after saving a shot from Qushi and turning it behind for a corner. His replacement, Arabash, then saved an effort from Riyahi, and Al-Wehdat went into half-time ahead 1-0.
The second half brought further tactical adjustments from both coaches, including substitutions. Al-Wehdat maintained their collective approach and discipline, while Al-Hussein continued searching for openings in their opponents’ defence without success.
Al-Hussein turned to long-range shooting, with Qushi trying a surprise effort that Arabash held securely. The Al-Wehdat goalkeeper then made another important save to deny Aref Al-Haj one-on-one after a cross from Al-Salman.
Al-Hussein pushed forward in the closing minutes, while Al-Wehdat remained defensively cautious. The latter launched a counterattack that reached Bashar Thiabat, whose cross found Al-Naim. Abu Laila produced an excellent save to deny the header.
Al-Hussein responded with two attempts from substitute Brian, but neither changed the outcome, and Al-Wehdat secured an important 1-0 victory.
Photo caption: Al-Wehdat player Hamza Al-Naim celebrates after scoring the only goal against Al-Hussein.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Mustafa Ballo and Mohammad Arabiyat
