Algeria eliminate Jordan with second-half comeback

Algeria fought back from a goal down to eliminate tournament debutants Jordan from the World Cup with a 2-1 victory at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The result keeps Algeria’s knockout hopes alive in Group J, while winless Jordan remain at the bottom of the standings.

Jordan established an organised defensive shape against an Algerian side that dominated possession early on. The underdogs shocked the former African champions in the 36th minute when Nizar Al Rashdan curled a tidy finish into the net using the outside of his right foot, capitalising on a loose pass from Algeria's Ramiz Zerrouki. Mousa Al Tamari provided the assist for the opening goal, allowing Jordan to hold a 1-0 lead at half-time in front of an attendance of 68,371 spectators.

Algeria intensified their attacking pressure after the interval. Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila performed well to parry a fierce 25-yard strike from Ibrahim Maza and deny a header from Nadhir Benbouali. The equaliser eventually arrived in the 69th minute when Benbouali glanced a downward header into the corner of the net from a Riyad Mahrez corner.

The comeback was completed in the 82nd minute when Amine Gouiri hooked home a bouncing ball inside the penalty area following another inswinging corner. The late goal denied Jordan their first ever World Cup point and sealed the three points for Algeria.

-BBC