Key events<\/p>\n
VAR check in progress with concerns over an offside leading up to the goal. This could depend on who touched the ball as the mass of players jumped to reach the corner.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a>GOAL! Jordan 1-2 Algeria (Gouiri 82)<\/p>\n Algeria have come from a goal down to snatch the lead as Amine Gouiri is quickest to react to a goalmouth scramble and tap the ball into the net.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 80 min Algeria substitute Anis Hadj Moussa makes his presence felt with some trickery and a shot. Jordan<\/a> keeper Abulaila saves but can\u2019t prevent a corner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 78 min Ibrahim Maza helps get the second half of the second half rolling with an early shot. There isn\u2019t enough behind the strike this time but Maza looks as likely as anyone to score.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 77 min Algeria pull captain Riyad Mahrez to bring on the fresh legs and fast feet of Anis Hadj Moussa. Jordan<\/a> have removed Mahmoud Al-Mardi to call on young attacker Odeh Al-Fakhouri who started their opening game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Algeria have had eight shots to Jordan\u2019s two in the second half as the Asian side were content to set back and hope to hold their lead. But with the three points again well and truly up for grabs more fireworks can be expected in the remaining quarter of the game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.40 EDT<\/p>\n 73 min One of the better strikes we have seen from distance today in Santa Clara as Far\u00e8s Cha\u00efbi rockets a shot to test Jordan<\/a> keeper\u2019s glove work. Abulaila collects coolly and that leaves a hydration break calling \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 71 min Jordan<\/a> will surely step out of their defensive third more now as they also need to chase the game. They are immediately on the attack as Mahmoud Al-Mardi fires in a shot that perhaps only ensures that Algeria Zidane is awake.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Algeria had been pressing with multiple free kicks in dangerous areas and Riyad Mahrez able to drop the ball on the head of the towering centre-forward. Nadhir Benbouali was still left with plenty to do as he held his ground and read the flight of the ball best but in the end it was a comfortable header.<\/p>\n Nadhir Benbouali profile<\/a>Share<\/a>GOAL! Jordan 1-1 Algeria (Benbouali 69)<\/p>\n Nadhir Benbouali leaps above the Jordan<\/a> defenders to head the ball into the back of the net and level the scores in Santa Clara.<\/p>\n Nadhir Benbouali rises to head the equaliser! Photograph: Richard Heathcote\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesAll square in Santa Clara! Photograph: Luisa Gonz\u00e1lez\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.37 EDT<\/p>\n 68 min Husam Abu Dahab has picked up a yellow card for Jordan<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 67 min Abulaila takes matters into his own hands and deals with the second free kick as a strong punch clears the danger.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 min A free kick deep into the right attacking pocket for Algeria with every player bar the Algeria keeper standing in the final third. Mahrez picks out Maza on the edge of the six-yard box but there must have been a defensive flick on the way through.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 64 min Nabil Bentaleb picks out his fellow substitute Nadhir Benbouali outmuscling the Jordan<\/a> centre-backs inside the penalty area. Benbouali can\u2019t get enough behind his header as the ball takes one bounce and into Abulaila\u2019s gloves.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 63 min Jordan<\/a> look dangerous whenever they get the ball forward with plenty of space to attack into. Noor Al-Rawabdeh blasts a shot from range that flies over the crossbar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 61 min Ibrahim Maza was barely sighted in the first half but has come to life in the second half as he scythes through the midfield and around the right side of the Jordan<\/a> defence. But the young attacker can\u2019t get his left boot around the shot and the ball drifts wide for a goal kick.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 59 min Ali Olwan has been the main danger for Jordan<\/a> down the right but this time pops up in space on the other side with enough time to pick out Musa Al-Taamari charging into the area. But a desperate lunge is enough to take the ball away for a Jordan throw. The Asian side look just as likely to score as Algeria this half.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 57 min Musa Al-Taamari bursts clear and into the penalty area but the chance is closed down before the Jordan<\/a> can get a shot away. A pair of tough challenges quickly follow that allow Jordan time to set up their defence again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 56 min Jordan<\/a> are comfortable defending with five at the back to leave Algeria chipping away between the lines without creating much of note.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 54 min Algeria finally find a way to pull Jordan<\/a> out of position just enough to create an opening for Ibrahim Maza to lash a power strike toward the far post. Jordan keeper Abulaila punches clear and A\u00eft-Nouri wastes the rebound as he fires wide.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 53 min Algeria search for space between the lines and gaps in the Jordan<\/a> defence. But anything loose is being pounced on with Jordan desperate to defend their lead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 51 min A free kick for Algeria in a dangerous area and Riyad Mahrez whips in a tempting cross. Jordan<\/a> keeper Abulaila comes off his line to clear with an emphatic fist.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 50 min An early corner for Algeria puts Rafik Belghali in sight of goal but the defender is unable to make anything from the half chance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48 min A couple of changes for Algeria as coach Vladimir Petkovic looks for a spark as they set out to chase the game. Nabil Bentaleb and Nadhir Benbouali join the action with Hicham Boudaoui and Ramiz Zerrouki making way.<\/p>\n Nabil Bentaleb profile<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.16 EDT<\/p>\n 46 min Algeria get the second half under way as they have it all to do with Jordan<\/a> leading.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Before I head off for my own hydration break, a quick dip into the mailbag \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cFor all the praise ITV have [rightly] received here in the UK for their coverage of this WC, their commitment to making it impossible for the colour-blind to know which team is which is incredible,\u201d Ben Goodge is kind enough to relay. \u201c\u2018What, a tiny, imperceptible slightly coloured line bleeding into a large block of yellow doesn\u2019t help you?\u2019 I\u2019d love to have something more interesting to say, but it\u2019s 4.30 am, this is the 4th game I\u2019ve seen today, and it\u2019s disgustingly hot.<\/p>\n \u201cIn defence of the expanded format though, I questioned staying up for this one, but it\u2019s a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Love the commitment, Ben. Let\u2019s hope the second half can deliver enough to hold your interest. From what we saw from Algeria in the first half, I\u2019m quietly confident it will.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Or if you need a breather from the relentless action on the pitch but are committed to the other unrivalled star of this year\u2019s World Cup<\/a>, do learn more about Merlin \u2026<\/p>\n double quotation markMerlin, the pet duck in a mini Mexico shirt who has \u2060become a viral sensation and an unofficial mascot of the World Cup, met Mexico\u2019s president on Monday.<\/p>\n The duck waddled on \u2060to the stage \u2060at the \u200bstart of Claudia Sheinbaum\u2019s regular morning press conference, took a seat where ministers and officials are usually seen, and unfazed \u2060by the occasion, let out a few quacks.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here is some half-time reading for you with other tales coming out of Group J.<\/p>\n double quotation markThere stood 38-year-old Lionel Messi<\/a> by the penalty spot, poised for yet another flashbulb moment in a career already overflowing with them. Just a few days removed from his first World Cup hat-trick \u2013 one that had thrust him into co-ownership of the all-time tournament goalscoring record \u2013 Messi had been gifted an opportunity to notch his 17th goal and stand atop the mountain alone.<\/p>\n Calmly, coolly, he approached the ball. And then he missed the goal entirely.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Algeria had the bulk of possession at 55% to Jordan\u2019s 33% while the remainder was in contest. But Jordan<\/a> made their time on the ball count for more with 6-4 shots, including 3-2 on target, and crucially the opener to Nizar Al-Rashdan in the 36th minute.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: Jordan 1-0 Algeria<\/p>\n Jordan take a lead into the break after a goal from Nizar Al-Rashdan.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.56 EDT<\/p>\n 45+3 min Algeria seem content to hold out for half-time even while trailing by a goal. A sloppy long cross to the left attacking thirds ends in a throw-in for Jordan<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.56 EDT<\/p>\n 45 min Jordan<\/a> finishing the first half the stronger as the momentum has swung since the opening goal. A minimum five minutes of added time to come.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44 min Jordan<\/a> launch another attack that forces Ramiz Zerrouki into a desperate lunge that earns the first yellow card of the game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 42 min Jordan<\/a> stream forward again for Ali Olwan to pick out one of two white shirts cutting through the defensive line of three. The shot goes straight to the keeper but it looked offside anyway.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 min Algeria hold on to the ball across their defensive line but with little interest in forcing their way forward.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min Algeria set out to respond quickly after falling behind against the run of play.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It was chaos in the penalty area as Algeria failed to clear the danger in several attempts and Jordan<\/a> lacked the finishing touch to open the scoring until a miscue ended at the feet of Nizar al-Rashdan and Luca Zidane could not get enough behind the save. Hardly an all-time classic finish but Jordan take the lead.<\/p>\n Nizar al-Rashdan profile<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.42 EDT<\/p>\n GOAL! Jordan 1-0 Algeria (Nizar Al-Rashdan 36)<\/p>\n Jordan take the lead for the first time in a World Cup<\/a> match as Nizar Al-Rashdan knocks the ball slightly to the left of Luca Zidane and the Algeria keeper is unable to keep it out of the net.<\/p>\n Nizar Al-Rashdan prods home to open the scoring! Photograph: Luisa Gonz\u00e1lez\/ReutersNizar Al-Rashdan jumps for joy in front of the Jordan fans. Photograph: Carlos Barr\u00eda\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.45 EDT<\/p>\n 35 min Algeria shouts go up for a penalty for a challenge on the left side of the area but the referee waves it away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 min Mahrez pounces on to another long ball over the defensive line as the Algeria captain times his run perfectly. A brilliant first touch brings the ball down and into his path but a toe poke is blocked just enough to knock the ball out for a corner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 32 min Jordan deliver a long cross from the left side into the penalty area but Algeria are barely blink with a casual clearance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31 min Jordan continue to look most dangerous when making their way down their right side but are leaving too much space between their midfield and attack to set up anything of note.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 min An Algeria corner is just far away from Jordan<\/a> keeper Abulaila to cause him to second guess how to respond. He eventually commits but gets an unconvincing fist to the ball to leave Algeria in attack. Gouiri fires in a shot from the edge of the penalty area but it is straight at Abulaila.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 27 min No changes on either side as the game quickly settles into a familiar position \u2013 Algeria in command with the ball but Jordan<\/a> set up to prevent much more.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rayan A\u00eft-Nouri is receiving further attention and it\u2019s not clear whether he will be right to continue. That would be a huge blow for Algeria to lose the defender this early.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 24 min Jordan attack through Ali Olwan down the right as their first World Cup<\/a> goalscorer (against Austria) takes an early shot. Algeria keeper Luca Zidane collects comfortably with a dive to his right to leave Musa Al-Taamari waving his arms around and calling for a cross rather than speculative attempts from long range. Time to break for fluids.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a cracking atmosphere in the Bay Area. Photograph: Richard Heathcote\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.30 EDT<\/p>\n 22 min Jordan play on despite a Algeria player being down as the referee insists there is no need to stop play for what appears to be a shoulder issue.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.24 EDT<\/p>\n 20 min Riyad Mahrez is through on goal after a sublime ball over the Jordan<\/a> defensive line. An exquisite first touch opens up the opportunity but the Algeria captain can\u2019t quite get the ball back out from under his feet and it dribbles away toward keeper Yazeed Abulaila.<\/p>\n