Index: src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/jira/AbstractJiraDownloader.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/jira/AbstractJiraDownloader.java	(revision 628064)
+++ src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/jira/AbstractJiraDownloader.java	(working copy)
@@ -221,6 +221,11 @@
                     descending = true;
                     lowerColumnName = lowerColumnName.substring( 0, lowerColumnName.length() - 4 ).trim();
                 }
+                else if ( lowerColumnName.endsWith( "asc" ) )
+                {
+                    descending = false;
+                    lowerColumnName = lowerColumnName.substring( 0, lowerColumnName.length() - 3 ).trim();
+                }
 
                 if ( "key".equals( lowerColumnName ) )
                 {