KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a match that defied expectations, Algeria and Austria battled to an exhilarating 3-3 draw on Saturday night, ensuring both teams advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup. Initially, a less thrilling outcome would have sufficed, but the intensity of the game delivered a memorable conclusion.
The contest saw Algeria take the lead in stoppage time before Austria equalized on the final play, leaving Iran as the unfortunate team eliminated from the tournament. “I’ve been a coach for about 40 years. I don’t remember a game that had such a dramatic course,” reflected Austria’s coach, Ralf Rangnick, highlighting the unexpected twists that unfolded during the match. “If someone would have said it would be 3-3, nobody would have believed it.”
With the score tied at two goals apiece in the closing minutes, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez scored his second goal, seemingly sealing Austria’s elimination. However, moments later, Sasa Kalajdzic headed in the equalizer, securing Austria’s place in the knockout round.
“The locker room is madness,” Rangnick said with a smile. “If Alfred Hitchcock — who had nothing to do with soccer, didn’t really like soccer — if he had written such a drama, I would have said he was completely mad.”
Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer also contributed goals for Austria, which finished second behind Argentina in Group J, marking their first advancement to the knockout stage since 1982. Their reward is a matchup against European champion Spain on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Algeria’s Rafik Belghali also found the net, helping Les Fennecs become the ninth of ten African teams to progress. They will face Switzerland in a potentially favorable Round of 32 matchup on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“It’s a feeling of being extremely happy,” Mahrez expressed. “We’re obviously happy, and it was the objective when we arrived — it was to go beyond the first round. That’s what we did, and we’re all very happy.”
Iran, who could have advanced as one of the best third-place teams, faced elimination due to Kalajdzic’s late equalizer. “When you have 3-3,” Rangnick remarked, “nobody can assume that it was an agreement to tie.”
The atmosphere at Arrowhead Stadium was electric. The previous matches had drawn fans adorned in the colors of Argentina, Ecuador, and the Netherlands, but this time, the stands were filled with supporters of both Algeria and Austria, many of whom were local residents eager to witness the World Cup action.
Algeria’s training base in Lawrence, Kansas, has fostered a unique bond with the local community, leading many to support Les Fennecs. Interestingly, many new fans might not be aware of the historical context surrounding the “Disgrace of Gijón,” a controversial match from the 1982 World Cup that left a bitter memory for Algerian supporters.
As the match unfolded, Austria struck first with Arnautovic’s goal, marking his record-extending 49th career goal. Algeria responded just before halftime with Belghali’s left-footed strike, setting the stage for a thrilling second half.
The frenetic pace continued, with Austria regaining the lead through Sabitzer’s goal before Mahrez equalized for Algeria. With both teams fighting fiercely, the game culminated in dramatic fashion as Mahrez and Kalajdzic provided a fitting end to the group stage.
“I think the match was a little crazy. It sort of went beyond the limits of everyone’s endurance,” said Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic. “Let’s celebrate our promotion, so to speak, let’s rest and then we will begin again for the next round.”
___
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
