Algeria rallied to overcome Jordan, eliminating the World Cup debutants with a match remaining in the group stage following second-half goals from Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri.
Benbouali’s header in Santa Clara leveled the score after Nizar al-Rashdan’s first-half goal, and Gouiri scored the decisive goal in a goalmouth scramble with just eight minutes left, reigniting Algeria’s World Cup hopes after their initial 3-0 loss to Argentina.
This victory places Algeria on equal footing with Austria, each team having three points in Group J. Meanwhile, Argentina secured their advancement as group leaders after defeating Austria 2-0 earlier on Monday.
Match Highlights
Algeria’s head coach, Vladimir Petkovic, included veteran forward Riyad Mahrez in the starting lineup after he was benched against Argentina. Mahrez proved crucial against a Jordan team that packed their defense and relied on quick counterattacks.
Mahrez squandered a promising early opportunity when he received a lofted pass from Hicham Boudaoui but lost his footing. Moments later, he had another chance when he was one-on-one with Jordan’s goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila, but the keeper managed to deflect his chipped attempt.
Jordan drew first blood in the 36th minute, capitalizing on a moment of misfortune for Algeria when midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki lost possession in defense. Musa al-Taamari’s shot deflected to al-Rashdan, who found the bottom right corner with a precise finish.
Algeria’s Comeback
Petkovic responded by substituting Nabil Bentaleb and Benbouali at halftime, which elevated Algeria’s performance. In the 69th minute, Benbouali rose above the Jordan defense to connect with a Mahrez corner, directing a glancing header into the net.
Thirteen minutes later, Algeria took the lead following another set piece. Substitute Anis Hadj Moussa delivered a corner that deflected off al-Rashdan, allowing Gouiri to tap in the winning goal.
Looking Ahead
This outcome sets up a significant encounter for Algeria against Austria, echoing the historical “Disgrace of Gijon” from the 1982 World Cup, where allegations surfaced about collusion between Austria and West Germany to eliminate Algeria. Both teams have denied any wrongdoing, and FIFA cleared them of any allegations.
Algeria will seek revenge against Austria in their final group match in Kansas City, while Jordan will face Argentina and Lionel Messi, who has been instrumental in scoring all five of their World Cup goals thus far.
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