Amine Gouiri poked home the winner eight minutes from time as Algeria stormed back to beat Jordan 2-1 and condemn the World Cup debutants to an early exit in San Francisco.
Substitute Nadhir Benbouali had cancelled out Nizar Al-Rashdan’s first-half opener with a glancing header in the 69th minute, before Gouiri scrambled the ball into the net from a corner to revive Algeria’s campaign after their opening 3-0 loss to Argentina.
“Amine Gouiri's late goal gives Algeria a 2-1 win over Jordan, eliminating the World Cup debutants.”
Jordan, who lost their opener 3-1 to Austria, took the lead in the 36th minute when Algeria midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki turned the ball over in defence. Musa al-Taamari’s shot went sideways to Al-Rashdan, who drilled home first-time into the bottom right corner.
Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic had brought veteran attacker Riyad Mahrez into his starting XI after benching him against Argentina, and the 2019 African player of the year proved influential in breaking down a Jordan team that defended in numbers and were quick on the counterattack.
Mahrez blew an early chance when he ran onto a sublime lofted pass from Hicham Boudaoui but lost the ball under his feet. He then latched onto another long ball from Boudaoui to be one-on-one with Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila, who got a hand to his chipped shot.
Petkovic brought on Nabil Bentaleb and Benbouali at the break, and Algeria lifted their intensity. Surrounded by Jordan defenders, Benbouali rose highest to meet a Mahrez corner and sent a glancing header bouncing into the corner of the net.
Thirteen minutes later, Algeria took the lead from another set piece. Substitute Anis Hadj Moussa curled in a corner kick and a deflection off Jordan goalscorer Al-Rashdan allowed a gleeful Gouiri to poke in the winner.
The victory put Algeria level with Austria on three points in Group J, while ensuring defending champions Argentina will go through to the next round as group winners after their 2-0 win over the Austrians earlier on Monday.
For Algeria, it sets the stage for a grudge match against Austria on Saturday in Kansas City, 44 years after the “Disgrace of Gijon”. At the 1982 World Cup, Austria and West Germany were alleged to have colluded in a group match to ensure both would advance at the expense of eliminated Algeria. West Germany and Austria denied wrongdoing and Fifa cleared them. Algeria can take a measure of revenge against Austria, while Jordan face Argentina and Lionel Messi.