Second-half substitute Nadhir Benbouali headed in a corner kick in the 69th minute and Amine Gouiri provided the game-winner in the 82nd to give Algeria their first win at the World Cup since 2014.
The Jordanians had taken the lead for the first time at a World Cup on a first-half goal by Nizar Al Rashdan but couldn’t withstand the continual pressure from Algeria in the second half.
This marked the first time Algeria had ever won a World Cup game after conceding the first goal.
They had seven losses and two draws previously when that happened.
Algeria bounced back after a 3-0 to Argentina in its opening game and can finish second in Group J – and clinch a spot in the knockout round – with a win on Saturday against Austria.
Jordan are out of contention for the knockout rounds with a second straight loss.
Momentum clearly swung after Benbouali equalised when Riyad Mahrez’s corner kick found him in the middle of the box and he sent a header into the corner that Yazeed Abulaila couldn’t stop.
Algeria kept up the attack and took the lead when Gouiri got a touch on a ball in the box that deflected off Abulaila and into the net, setting off an Algerian celebration with their fans just behind the goal at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. (AP)
Edited by Tony Sabine
About the Author
