Algeria staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Jordan 2-1 on Monday, eliminating the World Cup debutants with a match to spare. Substitute Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri scored second-half goals to overturn Nizar Al-Rashdan's first-half opener and revive Algeria's campaign after a 3-0 loss to Argentina.
Match Overview
Benbouali's header in the 69th minute canceled out Al-Rashdan's strike, and Gouiri poked home in a goalmouth scramble eight minutes from time to secure the victory. "I don't know if we showed our true face but we played a better game than against Argentina," forward Gouiri 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."
The win put Algeria level with Austria on three points in Group J, while ensuring defending champions Argentina advance to the next round as group winners after their 2-0 win over Austria earlier on Monday.
Jordan's Heartbreak
Tearful Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Laila expressed his disappointment. "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. "As players, we have to look at the details and take responsibility. We blame ourselves and apologise to our fans."
Mahrez's Impact
Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic reinstated veteran attacker Riyad Mahrez into the starting lineup after benching him against Argentina. Mahrez proved influential, delivering the corner for Benbouali's header and nearly scoring in the first half. He missed an early chance after a sublime lofted pass from Hicham Boudaoui and later saw his chipped shot saved by Abu Laila when one-on-one.
Jordan, who lost their opener 3-1 to Austria, took the lead in the 36th minute after Algeria midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki turned the ball over in defense. Mousa Al-Tamari's shot deflected to Al-Rashdan, who drilled home first-time into the bottom right corner.
Second-Half Turnaround
Petkovic brought on Nabil Bentaleb and Benbouali at halftime, and Algeria lifted their intensity. Surrounded by Jordan defenders, Benbouali rose highest to meet Mahrez's corner and sent a glancing header bouncing into the net, confirmed after a protracted Video Assistant Referee check. Thirteen minutes later, substitute Anis Hadj Moussa curled in a corner kick, and a deflection off Jordan goalscorer Al-Rashdan allowed Gouiri to poke in the winner.
Looking Ahead
The victory sets the stage for a grudge match against Austria, 44 years after the "Disgrace of Gijon" at the 1982 World Cup, when Austria and West Germany played an infamous group match that advanced both at Algeria's expense, sparking allegations of collusion. Both teams denied wrongdoing, and FIFA cleared them. Algeria can seek revenge against Austria when they face them in Kansas City on Saturday, while Jordan take on Argentina and superstar Lionel Messi, who has scored all five of their goals at the World Cup so far.
