Algeria came back to win 2–1 and eliminate Jordan in Group J play at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara on Monday.
The Algerians rebounded from a 3–0 loss to Argentina from last week, and the win keeps Algeria in the running for the knockout round. Algeria improved to 1–1 with three points in the standings, and the Algerians sit behind Austria, which has a 1–1 record but a two-goal edge on goal difference thus far.
Jordan (0–2) put Alegria in a tough spot early with a goal by Nizar Al-Rashdan in the 36th minute. Algeria didn’t knot things up until the 69th minute when Nadhir Benbouali scored.
“It was a very, very hard game. You know, they were leading 1–0. But yes, we had the upper hand the whole game,” Algeria midfielder Ibrahim Maza told reporters afterward. “That was my feeling.”
“We were in the half-time break, we said that now we have to do even more,” Maza added. “But we have to be patient still, because we had the ball the whole time, and with space and time, we will score. And then we scored two nice goals. We are very happy.”
Algeria’s second goal and game-winner came in the 82nd minute when Amine Gouiri scored. Overall, Algeria outshot Jordan 17–8 and possessed the ball 62 percent of the time versus Jordan’s 27 percent possession mark.
“The Algerian team did some substitutions that might have made a difference,” Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami told reporters afterward. “They had a very tall offensive player. … I think our lack of experience allowed them to score from two corner kicks when we were waiting to make our own substitutions with the cooling break.”
Algeria takes on Austria in a potential tie-breaking match on Saturday. Austria fell 2–0 to Argentina on Monday.
“I think these three points now will help us the next game, will motivate us a lot,” Maza said. “Like we have confidence now to go the next game, and inshallah, we will win then again.”
Algeria seeks a second appearance in the knockout round and its first since 2014. The Algerians pushed Germany to the limit that year in the round of 16 with a 2–1 defeat.
“What mattered for us was to win this match, to stay in the hunt, to make it through to the knockout stage, and ultimately to have our fate in our own hands,” Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic told reporters afterward. “Nothing has yet been decided, but we’re in a good position.”
While Algeria wound up on the wrong side of Lionel Messi’s hat trick last week, Petkovic sees positives from that match in addition to Monday’s win. Algeria avoided elimination after giving up four goals to none overall in the World Cup through the first half against Jordan.
“I think ultimately we’ve produced two good performances. We deserve to win this game, and it certainly gives us a lot of confidence and belief ahead of our next match,” Petkovic said.
Gouiri sees his game-winning goal as a moment that could change the trajectory of Algeria’s fifth World Cup appearance. Algeria previously made it in 1982, 1986, 2010, and 2014.
“We had the mental strength to come back, and I think we’re continuing to improve. This victory, earned with character and determination, will do us [a] world of good,” Gouiri told reporters afterward.
“It could be a turning point. A win is always good, especially for confidence given the way the match unfolded,” he added. “We’re very happy, but we know nothing is done yet. We’ve taken an important step.”
Meanwhile, Jordan’s first-ever World Cup appearance will come to an end against Argentina on Saturday. It will be a tough draw for Jordan since Argentina, the defending champion, has outscored opponents 5–0 thus far.
“Now for us facing Argentina is an opportunity. It’s an opportunity for us to perform well and leave a great mark worthy of Jordanian football,” Sellami said.