Salt topples Ramtha’s grip on the league lead amid controversy; Al-Jazeera and Shabab Al-Ordon settle for a draw
24 October 2025
Match overview
In Irbid, the league-leading Ramtha were held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Al-Salt in the ninth round of the Jordanian Pro League at Prince Hassan Stadium.
Salt opened the scoring in the 12th minute through a Nigerian forward, while Ramtha equalized in the 69th minute thanks to Ghanaian striker Darko Abena.
Ramtha remain on 23 points, four clear of Al-Faisaly in second place on 19.
The result halted Ramtha’s four-match league winning run, stretching back to a draw with Hussein Irbid on August 19.
Salt had previously shocked Ramtha again in the Shield Cup, when the visitors were defeated earlier in October.
Salt’s 12 points place them fifth in the standings, with a balanced record of three wins, three draws and three losses.
The match was dominated by contentious refereeing decisions, including a Ramtha goal awarded by the official Mohammed Mofeed despite Salt’s protests over a perceived foul on the goalkeeper.
Salt also appealed for a second-half penalty, alleging a handball by a Ramtha defender in the box.
A long-range strike from Salt’s Sand Jaara struck the crossbar, denying a late equalizer, while Ramtha forward Mohamed Abu Zrayq ("Sharara") wasted a good chance from the edge of the area.
With the result, Al-Faisaly will look to close the gap by hosting Al-Ahli on Saturday, while Hussein Irbid welcomes Sama Al-Sarhan in another round fixture; a match involving units was postponed due to travel.
Salt lead a busy league format as the season continues under a three-phase plan involving 10 teams, with the first phase wrapping up this round and Ramtha remaining on top.
Ramtha will open the second phase with a tough test against Al-Wehdat, who are seeking revenge after losing to Ramtha in the first round.
Ramtha also sent a letter to the Ministry of Youth and the Jordan Football Association requesting the three-month closure of Prince Hassan Stadium for surface renewal, a move the club argues would risk fairness and grip on home games.
The ministry later responded by delaying the closure to accommodate ongoing fixtures.
Reaction was mixed: Salt’s Issam Al-Samiri called the match strong and noted that taking a point away from Ramtha on their home soil was a positive result, while Ramtha captain Hamza Al-Dardour admitted the team did not perform at its best and pledged to rebound against Wehdat, praising Salt’s quality and the leadership of coach Haitham Shboul.
In another game, Al-Jazeera and Shabab Al-Ordon drew 0-0 earlier in the day, with Yazan Dahshan sent off for Shabab Al-Ordon in the sixth minute; Shabab Al-Ordon sit on eight points, while Al-Jazeera have eleven.
Key facts: the league features 10 teams across three stages, Ramtha leads the table, and scheduling changes loom with stadium issues and travel demands.
Punchline time. If football were a stand-up set, this derby would win a standing ovation for drama and a participation trophy for defending. And a reminder: even the whistle can have a spoiler alert—tonight, it was all about the twists.
Punchline 2: My popcorn enjoyed the show more than my streaming app enjoyed buffering on the goal moments.
