Jordan 1-2 Algeria: Maza strikes as Mahrez-inspired Desert Foxes edge physical World Cup tussle

Algeria survived a late Jordan fightback to clinch a 2-1 victory in their World Cup Match Round 2 clash, dominating possession but forced to battle until the final whistle in a contest shaped by Ibrahim Maza’s finishing and Riyad Mahrez’s creativity.

• Jordan will play with Argentina. June 28 at 02:00 (GMT), on AT&T Stadium.
• Algeria will play with Austria. June 28 at 02:00 (GMT), on Arrowhead Stadium.

Jordan

• Yazid Moeen Hasan Abu Layla (7.6)
• Abdallah Mousa Musallam Naseeb (6.6)
• Yazan Mousa Mahmoud Abu Al Arab (6.3)
• Husam Ali Mohammad Abudahab (6.9)
• Ehsan Nabil Farhan Haddad (6.7)
• Nizar Mahmoud Ahmed Al Rashdan (6.9)
• Noor Al Deen Mahmoud Ali Al Rawabdeh (7)
• Mohannad Mahmoud Saleh Abu Taha (7.2)
• Ali Iyad Ali Olwan (6.7)
• Mahmoud Nayef Ahmad Al Mardi (6.6)
• Mousa Mohammad Mousa Sulaiman Al Tamari (6.5)

Algeria

Substitutions:

Jordan

• Mahmoud Nayef Ahmad Al Mardi (O. Al Fakhouri, 76)
• Mousa Mohammad Mousa Sulaiman Al Tamari (Ali Al Azaizah, 84)
• Mohannad Mahmoud Saleh Abu Taha (M. Abu Hasheesh, 85)
• H. Abu Dahab (Saleem Obaid, 90)
• Ali Iyad Ali Olwan (Mohammed Abu Zurayq, 90)

Algeria

• Ramiz Larbi Zerrouki (Nabil Bentaleb, 46)
• Hicham Boudaoui (Ahmed Nadir Benbouali, 46)
• Riyad Karim Mahrez (Anis Hadj-Moussa, 76)
• Rayan Aït-Nouri (Jaouen Djimmy Hadjam, 85)
• Amine Ferid Gouiri (Zinéddine Belaïd, 86)

Ball possession:

The Desert Foxes controlled long spells of the game with 72% of the ball compared with Jordan’s 28%, and produced the greater attacking threat, registering 17 attempts with eight on target. Yet they were made to work for the points as Jordan, who must now hope results elsewhere go their way, refused to buckle and created enough chances to worry the North Africans.

Passes:

Jordan managed eight shots in total, four of them on target, with Nizar Mahmoud Ahmed Al Rashdan the liveliest of their forwards and central to everything positive they produced in the final third. Algeria, however, always looked the more polished side in both boxes and ultimately showed the composure that Jordan lacked at key moments.

Defense:

Mahrez the architect, Maza the finisher
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Riyad Mahrez was the game’s standout attacking influence, knitting together Algeria’s possession play and repeatedly stretching Jordan’s defensive shape. The Algeria captain created three key chances – more than any other player – and his delivery from wide areas was a constant menace.

Face-to-face:

It was Ibrahim Maza, though, who made that dominance count. The forward was the most clinical in terms of shots on goal, leading the Algerian side for efforts on target as he continually found space between Jordan’s centre-backs. His movement and willingness to shoot ensured Algeria’s territorial advantage translated into genuine, sustained pressure.

Fouls:

Yellow cards:

• Husam Ali Mohammad Abudahab (Jordan) at 64 minute
• Ramiz Larbi Zerrouki (Algeria) at 44 minute

The last five games (including this match):

• Jordan –
• Algeria –

Top 5 World Cup scorers:

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Line-ups:

Next games:

• Jordan will play with Argentina. June 28 at 02:00 (GMT), on AT&T Stadium.
• Algeria will play with Austria. June 28 at 02:00 (GMT), on Arrowhead Stadium.