A TOUGH assignment just got more complicated.

Jordan's 1-0 home win over Group E favourites Iran on Sunday makes the national football team's remaining two Asian Cup Qualifying matches tougher.

Less than a week after Singapore boosted their chances of qualifying for the 2011 Asian Cup with a win over Thailand in Bangkok, they were dealt a blow.

With leaders Iran still expected to take one of the two qualifying slots (only the group's top two teams will go through), the Lions now find themselves having to stave off competition from not just Thailand, but also Jordan, for the other berth.

After this latest result, Singapore's Lions remain in second place with six points, a point behind Iran, but one point ahead of Thailand. Jordan, however, have crept up to within two points of the Lions.

Lions coach Raddy Avramovic said: 'No one believed me when I said that this is a very difficult group. Now, they do.

'In some ways, I was expecting Jordan to win (against Iran). They are a good side.

'But their win over Iran has complicated things. The group is now wide open.'

With two group games remaining, Singapore next host Iran on 6 Jan. Then, they visit Jordan on 3 Mar for a possible winners-take-all encounter.

Lions striker Aleksandar Duric lamented that Iran may become 'tougher' opponents because of this loss to Jordan.

He said: 'It's quite unbelievable.

'Now, the question is whether Iran will start recalling all their Europe-based players when they play us in January. Maybe they will sack the coach.

'They're not in the World Cup, and now they're having problems qualifying for the Asian Cup.

'For sure they will do something. All I know is that anything they do, will not be good for us.'

Fate

But the Lions still have their fate in their own hands.

Avramovic believes that his charges need one more win to make it to the tournament proper.

He said: 'It's still in our hands.

'The reality is, we have to prove that we are better than the rest in order to make it. We must rely on ourselves.'

Duric feels that if the Lions can repeat the performance when they beat Thailand 1-0 last week, they have nothing to worry about.

And he still feels more confident about facing Iran, saying: 'If Jordan can beat Iran, why not us?

'Yes, Iran are strong and they have qualified for the World Cup many times.

'But they are coming to play us in Singapore next. We can beat anybody here.'

WHAT'S IN STORE NOW

THE EQUATION (for the next matchday, 6 Jan, in Group E):

Jordan will be eliminated if they lose to Thailand, and Iran beat Singapore.