Algeria come from behind to beat Jordan 2-1 and surge into the Group J fight
Benbouali and Gouiri overturn Al-Rashdan's opener in Santa Clara to put Algeria back in contention on three points.
Algeria produced a gutsy comeback to beat Jordan 2-1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the modern Californian ground holding 68,827 spectators that hosted a second-round Group J clash at the 2026 World Cup. The Fennecs claimed their first win of the tournament and surged into the fight for qualification.
Jordan sprang a surprise by going ahead. In the 36th minute, Nizar Al-Rashdan beat the Algerian goalkeeper after an assist from Mousa Tamari to send his side into the break in front. The Fennecs' response, however, came in the second half.
The equaliser and the turnaround were forged in a decisive quarter of an hour. In the 69th, Ahmed Nadhir Benbouali levelled from a Riyad Mahrez pass, the talisman pulling the strings up front, and in the 82nd Amine Gouiri completed the comeback to seal the final 2-1. Algeria managed the closing stages against a Jordan with no answer.
Vladimir Petković set up Algeria in a 4-2-3-1 with Mahrez as the creative reference and Gouiri up top, while Jamal Sellami responded with a Jordanian 3-4-2-1 that competed but was ultimately outdone. The match had its edge, with yellow cards for Algeria's Ramiz Zerrouki (44') and Jordan's Haitham Abu Dahab (64').
With the win, Algeria move on to three points and sit third in Group J, level with Austria and behind a flying Argentina on six. Jordan, by contrast, are left without a point and all but eliminated. The group will close on 27 June: Algeria play for qualification against Austria, while Jordan bow out against Argentina.