Jordan 1-2 Algeria: Late turnaround sends World Cup debutants out | OneFootball

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Algeria came from behind to beat Jordan 2-1 and eliminate the debutants from the World Cup in their second game in Group J at the San Francisco Bay Stadium.

Nizar Al Rashdan’s ingenious finish with the outside of his boot punished Algeria for giving it away inside their half, only for Ahmed Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri to strike from set-pieces and complete the turnaround.

The result means Algeria could still yet finish second and qualify automatically for the round of 32 if they can beat Austria next time out, while Jordan’s final game in their debut World Cup with Argentina is rendered an exhibition.

As it happened

Algeria saw a number of chances for Gouiri and former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez in the opening 45 minutes, with the latter being denied one-on-one with goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Laila.

But their opponents didn’t go without a sight of goal, and it was Rennes striker Mousa Al-Tamari – his country’s only player competing in Europe’s top five leagues – who curled an attempt from range into the arms of Luca Zidane.

It looked as though another upset at the World Cup could have been on the cards when midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki tried a daring ball across the midfield that was pounced on by Jordan’s Mohannad Abu Taha.

Tamari’s complete miskick on the end of his cutback from the byline fortuitously fell to Al-Rashdan, but he still had it all to do and almost toe-poked the strike into the bottom right corner to send the Jordan fans into raptures.

The second period was as end-to-end as the first as Algeria grew more desperate for an equalizer, which came with just over 20 minutes to go when Benbouali rose highest to head in Mahrez’s corner kick.

For all of the debutants’ promise going forward and their resistance from open play, it would be another corner that decided the game and their fate at the tournament.

Anis Hadj Moussa’s inswinger from the right wasn’t dealt with as Algeria won first contact and headed the ball down, and Gouiri was on hand to help it on its way past Laila and into the net despite Taha’s efforts to keep it out.

Jordan had made a great account of themselves both against Austria and the Algerians, but couldn’t find ways to draw level in either tie and as a result were eliminated from their maiden World Cup tournament at the final whistle.

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Jordan – Algeria Live Score