In a tough but uninspired match, in the early hours of this Tuesday (23), Algeria defeated Jordan 2-1, coming from behind, in Santa Clara (USA), eliminating the debuting team and achieving their first victory in the World Cup in North America.
The Algerian team reaches 3 points and leaves Jordan at zero. Lionel Messi’s Argentina is the leader of Group J, with 6 points, while Austria, defeated this Tuesday by the Argentines, also has 3.
In the last round, Algeria faces Austria in a direct confrontation for second place in the group, while Jordan ends its participation against Argentina. The two matches are scheduled for Saturday (27), at 11pm.
The first half of the match started with more possession of the ball by the Algerians.
Exploiting reversals and the sides of the field, Algeria attacked with left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri, who plays for Manchester City, and Mahrez. Jordan speculated on counterattacks.
It was in a reversal that Mahrez threatened the Jordanian goal. In the 19th minute, he was launched deep by Zerrouki, invaded the area, but got in the way. The Jordanian defense appeared to cut.
The first goal of the match came from Jordan’s opportunism. In the 35th minute, Algeria played poorly, with Zerrouki missing a reversal at the edge of the area. Left midfielder Abu Taha played with number 10, Al-Taamari, and went to the baseline. He crossed to the center of the area, Al-Taamari drilled it, and Nizar Al-Rashdan hit it hard, with a trivela, into the back of Luca Zidane’s net.
The second half was marked by Algeria launching an attack. Coach Vladimir Petkovic removed midfielder Boudaoui and added striker Nadhir Benbouali to seek the equalizer. With the advantage on the scoreboard, Jordan bet on counterattacks.
In the 12th minute of the final stage, the Jordanian strategy was in danger. Left winger Almardi dribbled through the middle and found Al-Taamari behind the Algerian defense. The Jordanian number 10 tried to dribble the goalkeeper, but the Algerian defense managed to cut it.
Algeria insisted on high plays. In the 17th minute, Benbouali, who came on during the break, infiltrated the defenders and headed the ball past goalkeeper Yazeed.
At 23 minutes, the outcome was different. From a corner kick, Benbouali rose above the Jordanian defense and headed the ball into the left corner, leaving no chance for Yazeed.
After the goal, Algeria continued to press. In the 39th minute, in another high play, the ball bounced off the Jordanian defense and fell to center forward Gouiri, who finished for the goal.
The result rehabilitates Algeria in the tournament. In the first round, the team lost to Argentina 3-0, in a show by Messi, who scored a hat-trick.
In its fifth participation in the World Cup, the team seeks to qualify for the knockout stages for the second time in history. In 2014, in the World Cup held in Brazil, Algeria was eliminated in the round of 16 by Germany —which would go on to win the tournament—, in extra time, after a 0-0 draw in regular time.
For Jordan, the defeat marks the end of their chances of continuing in the tournament. One of the four teams new to World Cups, along with Uzbekistan, Cape Verde and Curaçao, the team will end its participation against Messi’s team.
The team can even reach 3 points, but loses in the first tiebreaker of the competition, the direct confrontation between the group’s teams. In their debut, Jordan was also defeated, 3-1, by Austria.
