Jordan storm past Singapore

Jordan marched towards the final 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Asian qualifying round with a 3-0 win over Singapore today. At Singapore's Jalan Besar Stadium, Jordan went ahead on ten minutes and then scored twice in the second half to stay on maximum points in Group A. "[I] was very happy tonight, [my] team played very well and have a good result and the Jordan team is now closer than any more time to the fourth round," Jordan coach Adnan Hamad said. "I think the result is fair... [Singapore] is actually a good team but unfortunately they played against a powerful team like Jordan," he added. "I think that the Jordan team has become one of the best teams in Asia." Wins over Iraq and China PR had already put Jordan top of Group A and they soon lived up to their billing when Abdallah Deeb's close-range header put the visitors in front. They almost doubled their lead minutes later but Odai Al Saify's powerful strike was parried by Singapore goalkeeper Mohamad Izwan. Singapore came to life and had a superb chance to equalise in the 19th minute, but Muhammad Safuwan's header bounced off the pitch and over the crossbar. And the hosts could not translate their determined forays into Jordan's half into goals as their scoring boots deserted them in their opponent's penalty box. Singapore had a close shave almost immediately after the second half re-start, when Abdallah struck the crossbar after meeting an inswinging cross right in front of goal. Jordan add to tally But the second goal followed shortly afterwards when Anas Bani Yaseen used his head to flick on a powerful free-kick past Izwan on 54 minutes. Ahmad Ibrahim put the game beyond Singapore's reach in the 64th minute when he slid a low shot to the left corner of the goal and past a diving Izwan from the edge of the penalty box. Jordan could have made the scoreline more emphatic but for the heroics of Izwan, who saved well when a well-placed pass put Ibrahim clear on goal. Singapore had the ball in the net in the 76th minute but Shahril Ishak's thunderous strike was ruled out for offside.