SINGAPORE — The 2015 Asian Cup qualifying campaign started dismally for Singapore as they crashed to a 4-0 defeat to Jordan in Amman in their Group A opener yesterday.

With the temperature hovering between 11°C and 12°C at the King Abdullah Stadium — frigid by Singapore standards — the Lions were unable to withstand the rampant Jordanians who at 95th are nearly 60 places above Singapore (154th) in the FIFA rankings.

And the gulf in class showed as Jordan made camp in the Singapore half throughout most of the match, despite interim Lions coach V Sundramoorthy’s move to start with a defensive line-up, stringing Daniel Bennett, Baihakki Khaizan, Safuwan Baharudin and Shakir Hamzah behind the defensive midfield duo of Isa Halim and Noh Rahman.

Jordan’s first goal came in the 18th minute when Abdallah Deeb latched on to a loose ball in the box to send his shot past Lions goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud.

Noh Rahman, who last featured for the Lions in November 2011, could have equalised in the 40th minute, but his long-range shot was parried over by Jordanian goalkeeper Amer Shafi. That would prove to be Singapore’s only shot on target for the entire match as Jordan quickly reasserted themselves early in the second half.

Two goals in quick succession then put paid to Singapore’s hopes of stealing a draw. A superb solo effort from Khalil Zaid Khali Baniateyah in the 54th minute was followed by Ahmad Hayel’s strike two minutes later, when seven Singapore defenders in the box were unable to prevent the Jordanian striker from curling his shot beyond Izwan’s reach.

Ahmad Hayel then went on to grab a second goal for himself in the 73rd minute, dribbling through the Singapore defence with his right foot, before unleashing a left-footed shot that went through Safuwan’s legs en route.

The result marks the Lions’ third successive loss to Jordan since a 2-1 home win over the Middle Eastern side in January 2009 in the qualifiers for the 2011 Asian Cup.

It also means that the Lions are bottom of their group after Oman beat Syria 1-0 yesterday.

Singapore’s next qualifier is a home tie against Oman in August.