Algeria rallied to eliminate debutants Jordan from the World Cup, maintaining their own knockout dreams in San Francisco.
Jordan was structured defensively against an Algeria team that controlled possession—and the underdogs went ahead in the first half when Nizar Al Rashdan scored with a curling shot.
However, Algeria intensified their efforts after halftime, with Nadhir Benbouali scoring an equalizer from a corner taken by Riyad Mahrez in the 69th minute.
Amine Gouiri scored a winner in the 82nd minute for Algeria, preventing Jordan from earning their first World Cup point.
Al Rashdan sent a header past the near post within a minute, but Algeria soon gained control, with Gouiri pulling a low shot wide and Fares Chaibi having a low attempt stopped from Ibrahim Maza’s pass.
Mahrez, in his first World Cup start since 2014, almost scored after receiving a long pass, but Yazeed Abulaila thwarted him.
Jordan took the lead in the 36th minute with Al Rashdan’s neat finish using the outside of his right foot, following a careless giveaway by Algeria’s Ramiz Zerrouki.
Following the break, Abulaila deflected a strong 25-yard attempt from Maza and stopped a header from Benbouali, while Noor Al Rawabdeh of Jordan curled just wide from the edge of the area at the opposite end.
However, Algeria eventually leveled the score when Benbouali directed a downward header into the corner—and then Gouiri secured the victory by hooking in a bouncing ball after another cross from the corner.
