The preliminary round of this season's Jordan Football Cup concluded last night, following a series of matches that produced notable results and determined the teams advancing to the next round, ahead of the professional clubs entering the competition starting from the Round of 16.
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Most of the preliminary round results were largely in line with expectations, given the technical gaps between the teams, though some matches carried a clear sense of competitiveness and excitement, with several teams putting in strong performances that showed their ability to compete and not simply give in to the differences on paper.
The preliminary round wasn't without surprises and lopsided results, but it also reflected the nature of the Cup competition, which gives every team a chance to compete in a single match and opens the door for teams from different divisions to shine, away from league standings and calculations.
The preliminary round matches also drew notable crowds at a number of stadiums, giving the fixtures a special atmosphere and helping raise the level of excitement, a sign that fans remain closely attached to the domestic competition and keen to follow and support their teams across different tournaments.
The preliminary round produced a number of big results, most notably Al-Sarhan's 10-0 win over Mgheir Al-Sarhan, one of the tournament's biggest results so far, while Ittihad Al-Ramtha beat Shabab Al-Aqaba 1-0.
Amman FC beat Al-Karmel 3-0, Jerash beat Kufr Soum 2-0, while Al-Ahli settled its match against Shabab Hawara 4-2 on penalties after regulation time ended level.
Ma'an also got past Shabab Al-Hussein 3-2 on penalties, while Al-Sareeh beat Moab 1-0, Yarmouk beat Al-Jaleel 4-0, and Sahl Hauran beat Ajloun 2-0.
Hay Al-Amir Hassan also advanced, beating Al-Hashimiya 1-0, as did Al-Tira, who beat Shabab Sarwat 2-0, while the Shabab Al-Talbieh vs. Sama match remained the last one to determine the full lineup of teams advancing to the Round of 16.
The upcoming round promises to be tougher and more exciting, with the level of play rising as professional clubs enter the competition, raising expectations of more evenly matched games, especially since the single-match knockout format leaves teams little room to make up for mistakes, keeping focus and caution essential from the opening whistle.
In the Round of 16 draw, Ittihad Al-Ramtha will face Al-Sarhan, Amman FC will meet Jerash, Al-Ahli will face the winner of the Shabab Al-Talbieh vs. Sama match, Ma'an will take on Yarmouk, and Sahl Hauran will meet Al-Sareeh.
Professional clubs will join the competition starting from the Round of 16, which will be held from October 16 to 20, followed by the quarterfinals from December 13 to 16, with the semifinals to be held immediately after the quarterfinals, should any First or Second Division team advance to that stage.
Under the tournament's rules, matches from the Round of 32 through the final are played on a single-match knockout basis, with penalty shootouts used directly in the event of a draw after regulation time. For the final, if the two qualifying teams' home venues differ, the match location will be determined by a draw. If the final ends level after regulation time, extra time will be played, followed by penalties to decide the title, with match revenue split equally between the two finalists.
Al-Hussein won last season's 44th edition of the Jordan Cup, their first-ever title, after beating Al-Ramtha 3-0 in the final.
Al-Faisaly are the tournament's most successful team with 21 titles, followed by Al-Wehdat with 14. Al-Jazeera, Al-Ramtha, and Shabab Al-Ordon have each won the title twice, while Al-Arabi, Dhat Ras, Al-Ahli, and Al-Hussein Irbid have each won it once.
With the preliminary round now complete, attention turns to the Round of 16, where competition is expected to intensify further with the entry of the professional clubs, marking the start of a new phase in the race for the title, amid varying ambitions between teams looking to continue their run and others hoping to make a strong statement against more experienced, better-equipped opponents.
Resource: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Yahya Qatishat
