World Cup 2026: We deserved to win – Vladimir Petkovic after Algeria rallied from behind to beat Jordan

Algeria produced a spirited second-half turnaround to defeat Jordan 2–1 on Monday, coming from behind to claim a crucial victory that strengthens their hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the World Cup.

After falling behind in the first half, the North Africans responded with two goals from set pieces after the break. Substitute Nadhir Benbouali levelled the score in the 69th minute with a powerful header from a corner delivered by Riyad Mahrez.

The comeback was completed in the 82nd minute when Amine Gouiri reacted quickest inside the box to steer home the decisive goal, sealing Algeria’s first World Cup win since 2014.

Jordan had earlier made history by taking their first-ever lead at a World Cup, courtesy of Nizar Al Rashdan’s first-half strike. However, they were eventually overwhelmed by sustained pressure and Algeria’s dominance from dead-ball situations after the restart.

The result also marked a milestone for Algeria, who secured a World Cup victory after conceding first for the very first time, having previously failed to win in nine such matches.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic hailed his team’s resilience, insisting the result was fully deserved and a timely confidence boost ahead of their final group fixture. “It certainly gives us a lot of confidence and belief ahead of our next match,” he said.

Midfielder Ibrahim Maza echoed the sentiment, stressing the importance of the three points as Algeria look ahead to a decisive clash against Austria, where a win could secure second place in Group J and a place in the knockout rounds.

Jordan, meanwhile, have been eliminated after a second consecutive defeat, despite showing flashes of promise in their maiden World Cup appearance. Coach Jamal Sellami acknowledged the difference came down to set pieces, praising his players’ effort despite the result.

Algeria will now turn their attention to Saturday’s decisive encounter, knowing their qualification hopes remain firmly in their own hands.