Jordan had a decent game against Algeria.
After two matches in Group J, Jordan has yet to earn any points, having lost to Austria and Algeria with scores of 1-3 and 1-2 respectively. This result dashed "The Chivalrous Ones'" hopes of advancing to the next round. Even in their first World Cup appearance, Jordan failed to spring a surprise.
In their final match, Jordan will face Argentina on June 28th. Even if they achieve the unthinkable, a resounding victory over the reigning world champions, coach Jamal Sellami's team will still be guaranteed to finish last in the group, due to an inferior head-to-head record against Austria and Algeria. This is a factor considered only after points in this year's tournament.
In fact, Jordan didn't play badly against Algeria on the morning of June 23rd. Right after the opening whistle in San Francisco, both teams started at a high pace and continuously created dangerous opportunities.
Jordan exerted more pressure, with Alrashdan's header narrowly missing the post in the opening minute. On the Algerian side, Gouiri and Mahrez had notable opportunities but failed to capitalize.
In a closely contested match, Jordan unexpectedly found the opening goal in the 36th minute. From a scramble in the penalty area, Alrashdan quickly unleashed a powerful shot with the outside of his foot. Although the Algerian goalkeeper managed to get a hand on the ball, he couldn't prevent the goal, giving Jordan a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Algeria completed an emotional comeback victory against Jordan.
In the second half, Algeria pushed forward and continuously increased the pressure. Jordan's goalkeeper Abulaila had an outstanding performance, repeatedly denying shots from Maza, Benbouali, and their teammates.
However, the relentless pressure from the North African representatives finally paid off. In the 69th minute, from a corner kick, Benbouali rose high and headed the ball accurately into the far corner of the goal, leveling the score at 1-1 for Algeria.
With the equalizer, Algeria played with even more enthusiasm. In the 82nd minute, the turning point of the match came from another set piece. Following a corner kick from the right wing, the ball bounced in front of the Jordan goal and Gouiri quickly rushed in to finish from close range, putting Algeria ahead 2-1.
The final minutes saw a surge from Jordan. The West Asian team pushed forward in search of an equalizer, while Algeria played defensively, defending their lead. The second half had seven minutes of added time, but Jordan were unable to make a difference.
Ultimately, Algeria won 2-1 after an impressive comeback, while Jordan was eliminated from the tournament. In the final matchday, Algeria will face Austria in a battle for a direct spot in the knockout round, as well as a chance to advance as one of the best eighth-placed teams.