Algeria came from behind to beat Jordan 2-1 at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, their two second-half goals overturning a half-time deficit and keeping their Group J hopes alive. It was not a convincing performance across the full 95 minutes, but the numbers told the real story of who controlled the match: 72 per cent possession, 17 shots, nine corners, and an expected-goals figure of 1.81 to Jordan's 0.65. Algeria were always going to find a way through. It just took them longer than it should have.
Jordan had other ideas for as long as they could manage it. Jamal Sellami's side sat in a compact 3-4-2-1, conceded territory willingly, and made Algeria's dominance feel fruitless for the better part of an hour. Yazeed Abu Laila in the Jordan goal made six saves across the evening, a number that captures the scale of what his back three were withstanding. Luca Zidane, at the other end, managed three. The contrast in goalkeeping workloads says everything about how this game was contested, and who was doing the pressing.
The first goal, against the run of statistics, went to the underdogs. On 36 minutes, Mousa Tamari worked the ball to Nizar Al-Rashdan and the midfielder converted to put Jordan ahead. It was Jordan's most meaningful moment of the match and, for a team managing only 28 per cent possession, an entirely merited reward for their defensive diligence. They had managed only a single corner by the time the referee blew for half-time, yet walked in ahead. Algeria had created chances and had the ball constantly but were struggling to convert that weight of possession into genuine danger. Possession without penetration is merely exercise.
Vladimir Petkovic acted decisively at half-time, withdrawing both central midfielders Hicham Boudaoui and Ramiz Zerrouki in one move. Zerrouki had picked up a yellow card in the first half and neither man had made the impact Petkovic needed. The double change worked. Ahmed Nadhir Benbouali, introduced from the bench, equalised on 69 minutes from a Riyad Mahrez assist, the veteran winger having been Algeria's most consistent creative outlet all evening. It was Benbouali's first meaningful act in the match and he took it cleanly. Petkovic's gamble had paid off.
With the game level and Jordan visibly tiring, the winner arrived on 82 minutes. Amine Gouiri, who had worked hard and largely thanklessly across the front line for most of the match, finished to complete the turnaround. At that point Jordan's resistance, admirable for so long, simply ran out of road. They ended the game with eight shots in total, four of them on target, and only that solitary corner kick. Algeria had five times as many corners and blocked shots aplenty; Jordan's shape held until the moments it absolutely could not.
The defeat leaves Jordan third in Group J on no points from one game played, though they have played one fewer match than the sides immediately above them in the table. Algeria sit alongside them on zero points following an earlier group loss. Both sides need results urgently in the games to come, and neither can afford another slow start.
Mahrez, operating across the right of midfield, did what he has done for Algeria throughout a long international career: found pockets of space, stayed composed, and delivered when the moment asked him to. His assist for the equaliser was the moment that unlocked the match. Bensebaini at left centre-back was assured and progressive throughout, while Mandi alongside him commanded his area quietly and efficiently. For Jordan, Noor Al-Rawabdeh covered ground all evening and was one of the better performers in defeat. Abu Taha offered similar energy before being replaced on 85 minutes. The effort from this Jordan side was genuine. The scoreline, in the end, was fair.