Al-Sahel Extends Lead at the Top as Al-Sporty Secures First Win in Round 14 of the Zain League First Division
Al-Sahel’s first football team moved clear to the top of the First Division’s Zain League table, extending their lead after defeating Al-Yarmouk 1-0 in their match, which was part of the league’s fourth-round climax. The competition resumed after a long hiatus caused by current events, before a decision was made to restart the tournament between the 25th of this month and August 20 next year.
Al-Sahel, managed by Abu Hilaleh, secured the vital victory to clinch the top spot in the league standings, thanks to a late goal scored by Brazilian international Miranda, a player for Al-Sahel, in the 94th minute of stoppage time. With the win, Al-Sahel’s tally rose to 32 points, placing them first, while Al-Yarmouk remained on 29 points in second place, level with Al-Salmiya, who drew their own fourth-round match against Al-Jahra 1-1.
Al-Jahra snatch draw with Al-Salmiya
In the second match of the round, Al-Jahra secured a precious draw against Al-Salmiya at the Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium, with the game ending 1-1. Al-Salmiya took the lead in the 37th minute of the first half through a powerful strike from Fahd Al-Hawali, who exploited a defensive error by Al-Jahra players. The ball fell to him, and he shot into the left corner past Al-Jahra goalkeeper Badr Al-Asnoon, ending the first half with Al-Salmiya leading 1-0.
In the first minute of the second half, Al-Jahra’s Brazilian import John Carlos equalized for his team through a counter-attack and individual effort. He dribbled down the left side of Al-Salmiya’s penalty area and fired a shot into the right side of the net, securing a 1-1 draw. Al-Jahra’s points total rose to 25, placing them fourth, while Al-Salmiya’s tally reached 29, sharing second place with Al-Yarmouk.
Khaitan fall to Shabab Al-Ahli
Khaitan fell into the trap of defeat in their match against Shabab Al-Ahli, which ended 1-0 in favor of the visitors. The win lifted Shabab Al-Ahli to 10 points, placing them in the second-to-last position, while Khaitan remained on 17 points in fifth place in the league table.
Sporting secure historic win
Sporting Club achieved a historic victory in their debut season in the Zain First Division, defeating Burqan 1-0 in their match yesterday at Al-Sahel Stadium. After going 13 rounds without a win or a draw, Sporting finally secured their first-ever victory in their inaugural official season in domestic competitions.
Al-Filakawi: We demand VAR technology in the First Division
Yarmouk Club board member and head of the football department, Uthman Al-Filakawi, emphasized that his team suffered clear injustice, specifically regarding the goal scored by Al-Sahel in their match against Al-Yarmouk, which decided the top spot in the fourth round of the Zain First Division. He pointed out that the goal resulted from an obvious and clear foul, as the striker pushed an Al-Yarmouk defender inside the penalty area, allowing him to head a cross into the net. Additionally, there was doubt about an offside position at the start of the play. Al-Filakawi noted that the goal came in the dying moments of the match (94th minute), making it difficult for Al-Yarmouk to respond, especially since the match was crucial for the league title.
Al-Filakawi called on the Football Association to review the decision to hold First Division matches without the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, particularly given the intense competition for promotion to the Premier League and the narrow margins between the top four teams, with only two promotion spots available. He also urged that some important matches be assigned to foreign referees to shield local officials from controversy.
Al-Filakawi did not hide his concern over Al-Yarmouk’s overall performance in the first match following the resumption of the league after a break of more than two months, but he stressed his confidence in the players’ ability to bounce back strongly in the upcoming rounds.
