Algeria staged a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Jordan 2-1 at Levi’s Stadium, thanks to a late winner from Amine Gouiri.
Both nations went into this crucial World Cup group game desperate for points after opening day defeats. Jordan looked to capitalize on their defensive resilience, while Algeria looked to control the game and kick-start their tournament campaign.
Algeria controlled the early pace and passed the ball with confidence. However, Jordan defended deep in a compact low block, restricting his opponents to long-range efforts that failed to trouble the keeper.
Jordan stunned the favorites to take the lead in the 36th minute. Nizar Al Rashdan found space outside the penalty area and drilled a powerful shot into the back of the net.
The Desert Foxes struggled to find an immediate response before the interval but struggled to break away. Their frustration showed in the 44th minute when Ramiz Zerrouki was shown a yellow card for a wrong tackle.
Jordan went into halftime with a surprise lead. However, they knew that holding off the Algerian attack in the second half would require an even greater defensive effort.
Algeria dominated possession after the restart, forcing Jordan to defend in his own area. The pressure quickly mounted and Jordan defender Haitham Abu Dahab was shown a yellow card in the 64th minute.
The equalizer came in the 69th minute. Substitute Ahmed Nadhir Benbouali received a precise cross from Riyad Mahrez and headed home a brilliant header to level the scores.
With just eight minutes to go, the comeback was complete. Amine Gouiri collected a loose ball inside the penalty area and fired a low shot past Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Laila.
Algeria dominated the match statistics, with 72 percent possession and created 1.81 Expected Goals (xG). They registered 17 shots in total, forcing Jordan goalkeeper Abu Laila to make six impressive saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
This vital win revives Algeria’s World Cup campaign and keeps their knockout stage dreams alive. Meanwhile, Jordan faces a tough road after suffering his second straight loss in the tournament.
