Algeria fight back to beat Jordan and keep World Cup hopes alive

PARIS: Algeria came from behind to defeat Jordan 2-1 on Monday, ending the World Cup debutants' campaign with one match still to play and reviving their own hopes of progress from Group J.

Second-half goals from substitutes Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri completed the turnaround after Jordan had taken the lead through Nizar Al-Rashdan in the first half. The result moved Algeria level on three points with Austria, while also confirming defending champions Argentina as group winners after their 2-0 victory over Austria earlier in the day.

Gouiri said Algeria had improved after their opening 3-0 defeat to Argentina.

“I don't know if we showed our true face but we played a better game than against Argentina”, he said.

“We conceded a goal but we had the mental resilience and we're gradually gaining strength, and this match will do us a lot of good”, he added.

Mahrez returns to starting lineup

Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic restored Riyad Mahrez to the starting side after leaving him on the bench against Argentina, and the veteran attacker played a central role against a Jordan team that defended deep and looked dangerous on the break.

Mahrez almost scored in the first half on two occasions. First, he ran onto a lofted pass from Hicham Boudaoui but failed to control the ball properly. He later got through again from another Boudaoui delivery, only for Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Laila to get a hand to his chipped effort.

Jordan, beaten 3-1 by Austria in their opening game, went in front in the 36th minute after Algeria midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki lost possession in defence. Mousa Al-Tamari's shot ran across to Al-Rashdan, who struck first time into the bottom-right corner.

Second-half turnaround keeps Algeria in contention

Petkovic introduced Nabil Bentaleb and Benbouali at half-time, and Algeria raised the tempo after the interval. The equaliser arrived in the 69th minute when Benbouali met a Mahrez corner with a glancing header despite being surrounded by defenders. The goal stood after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee check.

Algeria found the winner 13 minutes later from another corner. Substitute Anis Hadj Moussa swung the ball in and a deflection off Jordan scorer Al-Rashdan left Gouiri with the chance to prod home from close range.

A tearful Abu Laila said Jordan had let the match slip despite having periods of control.

“The goals we conceded weren't really down to tactics or anything like that. We had the game under control, but we missed our chances”, he said.

For Algeria, the win sets up a meeting with Austria in Kansas City on Saturday, 44 years after the so-called Disgrace of Gijon at the 1982 World Cup. In that match, Austria and West Germany both advanced at Algeria's expense amid allegations of collusion, which both teams denied, while FIFA cleared them. Jordan will next face Argentina and Lionel Messi, who has scored all five of his team's goals at the tournament so far.