Jordan Score Twice in Injury Time to Surge into Asian Cup Quarters

 Jordan's Nizar Al-Rashdan celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Asian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Iraq and Jordan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP)
Jordan's Nizar Al-Rashdan celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Asian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Iraq and Jordan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP)
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Jordan Score Twice in Injury Time to Surge into Asian Cup Quarters

 Jordan's Nizar Al-Rashdan celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Asian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Iraq and Jordan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP)
Jordan's Nizar Al-Rashdan celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Asian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Iraq and Jordan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP)

Jordan will meet Tajikistan in the Asian Cup quarter-finals after scoring twice in three minutes deep in stoppage time to stun Iraq 3-2 in a thriller on Monday.

Jordan had a man advantage after the 77th-minute dismissal of Aymen Hussein but looked down and out in injury time, only for Yazan Al-Arab to prod in a 95th-minute leveler.

If that was hard to believe, better was to come two minutes later for Jordan when Nizar Al-Rashdan curled in from well outside the box to fire the underdogs into the last eight and spark wild celebrations.

Iraq's heartbroken players were left flat-out on the turf, their dreams of repeating the country's fairytale 2007 Asian Cup title somehow snatched from their grasp.

Jordan's coach Hussein Ammouta agreed with his opposite number that the harsh dismissal of Hussein for a second yellow card, for over-celebrating what he thought was Iraq's winner, changed the game.

"The second half belonged to them, they scored two goals and then had to continue with 10 players," said the Moroccan.

Jordan, who held South Korea 2-2 in the group phase, next face a Tajikistan side who are one of the surprise packages of the competition on their Asian Cup debut.

In Monday's other last-16 game, hosts and holders Qatar face Palestine.

'Turning point'

Jordan are ranked 24 places lower than Iraq but they were the better side in the first half in front of a 36,000 crowd at a raucous Khalifa International Stadium.

After going close on at least two occasions, Jordan deservedly took the lead in the first minute of injury time.

The Iraq defense sloppily presented Yazan Al-Naimat with the ball and he raced towards goal before chipping over a flailing and overworked goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.

Iraq, who defeated pre-tournament favorites Japan 2-1 in the group stage, went on the attack after the break.

The pressure paid off in the 68th minute when defender Saad Natiq nodded down and in from a corner for the equalizer.

Jordan went right up the other end and flashed an effort across goal, before unmarked striker Hussein controlled the ball in the box and lashed in to make it 2-1 in the 76th minute.

It was his sixth goal of the tournament but he was promptly given a second yellow card, having sat on the ground and mimicked what appeared to be eating.

Then came Jordan's quickfire double at the death to leave Iraq reeling.

"Of course the sending-off was the turning point," said Iraq's Spanish coach Jesus Casas.

"I don't understand how a referee can send a player off for celebrating.

"When this happened, we had to make changes and this complicated our task."



Algeria Rally to Eliminate World Cup Debutants Jordan in 2-1 Win

 Algeria's Nadhir Benbouali (12) celebrates after scoring a goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)
Algeria's Nadhir Benbouali (12) celebrates after scoring a goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)
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Algeria Rally to Eliminate World Cup Debutants Jordan in 2-1 Win

 Algeria's Nadhir Benbouali (12) celebrates after scoring a goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)
Algeria's Nadhir Benbouali (12) celebrates after scoring a goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)

Algeria stormed back to beat Jordan 2-1 and eliminate the World Cup debutants with a match to spare on Monday thanks to second-half goals from substitute Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri.

Benbouali's header cancelled out Nizar Al-Rashdan's first-half opener and Gouiri poked home in a goalmouth scramble eight minutes from time to revive Algeria's campaign after their opening 3-0 loss to Argentina.

"I don't know if we showed our true face, but we played a better game than against Argentina," forward Gouiri said.

"We conceded a goal, but we had the mental resilience and we're gradually gaining strength, and this match will do us a lot of good."

The victory put Algeria level with Austria on three points in Group ‌J, while ensuring ‌defending champions Argentina will go through to the next round as ‌group ⁠winners following their ⁠2-0 win over the Austrians earlier on Monday.

Tearful Jordan keeper Yazeed Abu Laila said his team were unlucky.

"The goals we conceded weren't really down to tactics or anything like that. We had the game under control, but we missed our chances," he said. "As players, we have to look at the details and take responsibility.

"We blame ourselves and apologize to our fans."

Jordan's Nizar Alrashdan (21), right, and Saleem Obaid (17), left, react after their loss in the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)

MAHREZ RETURNS

Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic put veteran attacker Riyad Mahrez into his starting 11 after benching him against Argentina, and he proved influential in breaking down a ⁠Jordan team that defended in numbers and were quick on the counter.

The ‌former Manchester City player delivered the corner for Benbouali's header ‌and was unlucky not to score in the first half.

He blew an early chance when he ran onto ‌a sublime lofted pass from Hicham Boudaoui, but lost the ball under his feet. He then ‌latched onto another long ball from Boudaoui to be one-on-one with Abu Laila, but the Jordan goalkeeper got a hand to his chipped shot.

Jordan, who lost their opener 3-1 to Austria, went ahead in the 36th minute following clever link-up play and a touch of fortune when Algeria midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki turned the ball over ‌in defense.

Mousa Al-Tamari's shot went sideways to Al-Rashdan, who drilled the ball home first-time into the bottom right corner.

Petkovic brought on Nabil Bentaleb ⁠and Benbouali at the ⁠break, and Algeria lifted their intensity.

Surrounded by Jordan defenders, Benbouali rose highest to meet a Mahrez corner and sent a glancing header bouncing into the corner of the net in the 69th minute, with the goal confirmed after a protracted Video Assistant Referee check.

Thirteen minutes later, Algeria took the lead from another set piece.

Spectators cheer for their teams during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP)

Substitute Anis Hadj Moussa curled in a corner kick and a deflection off Jordan goalscorer Al-Rashdan allowed a gleeful Gouiri to poke in the winner.

For Algeria, it sets the stage for a grudge match against Austria, 44 years after the "Disgrace of Gijon".

At the 1982 World Cup, Austria and West Germany played an infamous group match in which both advanced at the expense of Algeria and fanned allegations of collusion.

West Germany and Austria denied wrongdoing and FIFA cleared them.

Algeria can take a measure of revenge against Austria when they face them in Kansas City on Saturday, while Jordan take on Argentina and superstar Lionel Messi, who has scored all five of their goals at the World Cup so far.


France Coach Deschamps Backs Mbappe to Break World Cup Scoring Record

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (AFP)
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France Coach Deschamps Backs Mbappe to Break World Cup Scoring Record

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (AFP)

France manager Didier Deschamps suggested ‌Kylian Mbappe will eventually claim the all-time World Cup goals record after the 27-year-old striker scored his second double of the tournament in Monday’s 3-0 win over Iraq.

Mbappe’s third and fourth goals of the finals pulled him level with Germany's former all-time record holder Miroslav Klose on 16 for his career.

He is now two behind Lionel Messi, who has already scored five times in this tournament despite approaching his 39th birthday following his brace against Austria earlier on Monday.

“Well, records are there to be broken,” Deschamps said in the post-match press conference. “And now he has a symbolic figure. He has 100 caps. He's always ‌scored goals. He ‌will score more goals.

“Take Messi, take (Cristiano) Ronaldo. I'm not ‌sure ⁠that Kylian will ⁠play up to their age, but as long as he's on the pitch and as he feels right, he will score a lot of goals.

"Every time he beats his own record, he does have the capacity to up his ante.”

Mbappe’s latest double was perhaps his most unusual, the goals coming nearly three hours apart in the first match of this World Cup beset by a lengthy ⁠weather delay.

What did France do during the delay?

“We played cards,” ‌Deschamps quipped. “No, well, we were waiting. We ‌had slots that kept being pushed forward again. And what is most important with ‌my ... colleague (Iraq manager) Graham (Arnold) is to have the 20 minutes to do another ‌warm-up, to not take any risks.

“There was a lot of rain that made the pitch very heavy. It was the first time that it happened to me. Same for my players.”

Deschamps admitted the ordeal was frustrating, but also felt there was little anyone ‌could have done differently.

“I was actually having a good time with the players. We're making fun. You know, ⁠it's a question ⁠of safety and it's just the way it is. You cannot fight against rain and lightning when there is a risk.

“It’s almost early morning in Europe, well, these are very special circumstances and I do hope that they will not happen again.”

As for the other goalscorer, Ousmane Dembele, Deschamps hoped the reigning Ballon d'Or winner was just getting started after his first of the tournament.

“Be easy on Ousmane,” he said. “There's no issue with Ousmane. He also needs to re-adapt to a system in which he doesn't play throughout the year.

“As long as Ousmane is well physically, and this is the case, then it's just fine-tuning. I trust in Ousmane. He knows that. And he's not somebody who doubts and doing what he did today, it's important because he's a decisive player.”


Iraq Still Have Chance to Go Through After France Loss, Arnold Says

 Iraq's Australian head coach Graham Arnold reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (AFP)
Iraq's Australian head coach Graham Arnold reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (AFP)
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Iraq Still Have Chance to Go Through After France Loss, Arnold Says

 Iraq's Australian head coach Graham Arnold reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (AFP)
Iraq's Australian head coach Graham Arnold reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. (AFP)

Iraq may have been on the wrong end of another superstar striker masterclass, but manager Graham Arnold insists his team's tournament dreams remain intact despite Monday's 3-0 defeat by France.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice in a Group I clash that was delayed more than two hours by severe weather, marking the second consecutive game where Iraq have conceded two goals to one ‌of football's elite ‌forwards.

In their opener, Norway's Erling Haaland found ‌the ⁠net twice in ⁠a 4-1 victory.

But the Australian coach is keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Friday's crucial final group match against Senegal, where Iraq's hopes of reaching the knockout phase hang in the balance.

"For me now, it's all about Senegal," Arnold said. "With ... eight third-placed teams going through. You know, we've still got a chance."

Arnold ⁠praised his team's first-half performance despite Mbappe's ‌opener from distance, but lamented how ‌the lengthy weather delay seemed to disrupt their rhythm.

A costly goal-kick ‌error immediately after the restart gifted France their second goal.

"Well, ‌you know, there's nothing I could do except I showed probably a little bit longer footage of the first half at halftime to show them where France was obviously hurting us a little bit," ‌Arnold explained.

"But it was more the players just had to sit and relax and keep ⁠relaxed and ⁠then get themselves obviously ready when we went back out there."

The Iraq boss had nothing but admiration for Mbappe's devastating display.

"He's an incredible player," Arnold said. "His speed is unstoppable. And that's why we defended a little bit deeper than I always do because if you leave space in behind and Mbappe's that quick, then he'll destroy you."

With Haaland and Mbappe both on the scoresheet in consecutive games against Iraq, Arnold sees an intriguing battle brewing.

"Haaland is scoring goals, and Messi's obviously scoring goals, and Mbappe. So it's going to be a very good competition between those three for the leading goal scorer."