“THE Cost of Fear”. “Ghotbi’s Jordan horror”. “Coward”. These are some of the headlines Iranian coach Ashfin Ghotbi faced after the national team’s 1-0 defeat to Jordan in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier.

TEHRAN: Afshin Ghotbi’s position as Iran coach is safe despite Team Melli’s shock defeat to Jordan in the AFC Asian Cup 2011 qualifiers.

AMMAN – Coach Adnan Hamad believes Sunday's 1-0 win over Iran will not only revive Jordan's 2011 AFC Asian Cup hopes but will also be the “turning point for Jordanian football.”

AMMAN – Amer Deeb scored with 11 minutes remaining as Jordan edged out Iran 1-0 in Sunday's 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier to throw the qualification picture in Group E wide open.

HANGZHOU –  Coach Gao Hongbo admitted stamina problems affected China in Sunday's 1-0 win over Lebanon and prevented a more comprehensive victory in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier at Hangzhou Yellow Dragon Stadium.

HANGZHOU – A first-half header from captain Du Wei was enough as China edged closer to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals with a 1-0 win over Lebanon in Group D on Sunday.

AMMAN – Group E leaders Iran are set to be without influential trio Javad Nekounam, Masoud Shojaei and Andranik Teymourian for Sunday's 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Jordan.

HANGZHOU – Head coach Gao Hongbo has vowed China fans that his side will adopt a more creative attacking style to seek a victory over Lebanon at Hangzhou Yellow Dragon Stadium on Sunday to move a step closer to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals.

MANAMA – Coach Milan Macala was a relieved man as Bahrain bounced back from last weekend's World Cup heartache with an emphatic 4-0 win over Yemen in Wednesday's 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier.

MANAMA – Bahrain bounced back from their World Cup heartache at the weekend as they registered an emphatic 4-0 win at home to Yemen to remain level on points with Group A leaders Japan in qualifying for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.