Algeria comeback denies Jordan first World Cup point and sends Messi through top
Algeria staged a second-half comeback to deny Jordan a first World Cup win and confirm Lionel Messi’s Argentina as winners of Group J.
Jordan were beaten on their tournament debut, losing 3-1 win to Austria but impressing by holding their own for much of the contest and were resilient again on their second appearance, taking the lead despite being outplayed for much of the first half.
Nizar Al-Rashdan finished well with the outside of his foot after Musa Al-Taamari’s miskick rolled into his path, though Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of France legend Zinedine, got a hand to it and may feel he could have stopped it.
At that point Jordan could technically have won the group in the final round of games by beating Argentina but goals from Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri handed Algeria a 2-1 win, their first at a World Cup in 12 years, and ensured Messi and co will progress top.
Here The Athletic’s Charlotte Harpur and Laurie Whitwell break down the key talking points.
Did Algeria deserve it?
Algeria were knocking at the door all night long. They could have been two or three goals up before Jordan scored against the run of play. Several times they hit long balls over the top, targeting their captain Riyad Mahrez, who timed his runs perfectly, but the two-time Premier League winner could not get the ball out of his feet. Credit to Jordan’s defence and goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila. As a unit, they remained resolute, disciplined and organised.
For all of Algeria’s passing sequences, which are very easy on the eye, they failed to take their chances. Ironically, it was set pieces which made the difference with both of Algeria’s goals coming from corners.
When Algeria snatched the equaliser, there was only one team that looked more likely to score as Jordan regressed deeper and deeper, unable to maintain such intensity.
Algeria’s Gouiri should be praised for reacting first to second balls for the match winner. It wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done.
Les Verts looked much more the complete side from back to front — barring Zidane’s weak save for Jordan’s opener — and will cause more problems for teams than Jordan who had little else to offer apart from attacking on the counter. Algeria deserved the win but all credit to Jordan for putting up such a fight.
Charlotte Harpur
Should Zidane have stopped Jordan’s goal?
Luca Zidane would have been hoping for a strong performance to rebound from a difficult World Cup debut against Argentina, however a familiar problem struck for Jordan’s goal.
Zidane got a hand to Nizar Al-Rashdan’s strike, but he failed to repel the ball fully. Instead, it nestled in the side of the net to give Jordan a first-half lead.
Al-Rashdan’s shot went through Rayan Ait-Nouri’s legs but wasn’t the firmest and having reached the ball it looked like Zidane could have completed the save.
He was similarly unfortunate for Lionel Messi’s opener in Algeria’s game against Argentina, getting two hands to the ball but being unable to tip it over. For Messi’s second, Zidane spilled Alex Mac Allister’s long-range shot to the feet of Messi for a tap-in. His father, Zinedine Zidane, was present for that game.
Zidane got a hand to Nizar Al-Rashdan’s strike, but it was not enough (Getty Images)
Zidane junior did make a good save to Lautaro Martinez in that match, his World Cup debut, and he has an impressive record overall since making his debut in the World Cup qualifier against Uganda last October, keeping five clean sheets.
He was at least able to take the field against Jordan without the mask he wore against Argentina. He has been required to use the face-fitting after recovering from a broken jaw sustained in April while playing for Granada.
For most of the game, Zidane’s opposite number Yazeed Abulaila was an example of how to make saves. But as Algeria’s second-half pressure told, he failed to meet the challenge.
He dived late to allow Nadhir Benbouali’s header past him for the equaliser. He then reacted slowly to the falling ball at another Algeria corner to let Amine Gouiri nudge the ball over the line.
Laurie Whitwell
What did this game do for Messi?
Algeria’s comeback not only reignited their World Cup hopes but it also ensured Messi’s Argentina win Group J.
With tied teams decided by head-to-head, Jordan could have topped the group by holding on to beat Algeria and then beating Argentina in the final game.
That unlikely scenario was extinguished by Algeria and Jordan have now been eliminated from the tournament.
Algeria play Austria on the final day and whoever triumphs there will finish second and face the winners of group H in Los Angeles on July 6. That group is led by Spain at present, with Uruguay second.
If the team who finish third have a good enough record to advance, they will play a group winner from Group B, D, G, K or L in Atlanta, Kansas City, San Francisco, Seattle or Vancouver. That will all become clearer at the weekend.