Algeria booked their place in the round of 32 in the most extraordinary circumstances, drawing 3-3 with Austria in a Kansas City classic that will be talked about for years to come.
Marko Arnautovic gave Austria the lead in the 28th minute, the veteran striker chasing down a long David Alaba ball before slotting past the goalkeeper for his second goal of the tournament. Algeria absorbed the blow and grew into the match. Fares Chaibi struck the post with a thunderbolt before Ibrahim Maza jinked his way into the Austrian area, only to fire the wrong side of the net.
The Fennecs were knocking. Rafik Belghali, the youngest Algerian to score at a World Cup since 1982, dragged level with a fine individual effort just before half-time, darting down the right byline, cutting inside Phillipp Mwene and powering a finish into the near post. Kansas City erupted.
Marcel Sabitzer restored Austria’s advantage in the 55th minute with a powerful finish from outside the box after Konrad Laimer’s low pass across the edge of the area. Algeria refused to wilt. Riyad Mahrez — remarkably scoring his first ever World Cup goal at 35 — pulled Algeria level again on the hour with a clinical finish after Houssem Aouar’s incisive work down the left.
Both sides then settled into a comfortable rhythm, content with a draw that suited each of them. The crowd grew restless. Then in the third minute of stoppage time, Aouar played Mahrez through on goal and he showed no mercy, giving Algeria what appeared to be a dramatic winner. At that moment Austria were eliminated and Iran would have progressed.
The Algerian bench stormed the touchline. Then disbelief. Rangnick threw on towering substitute Sasa Kalajdzic, who met Gregoritsch’s headed flick at the back post and nodded home in the 96th minute to level once more. Iran were devastated. Algeria survived — but only just.
The Fennecs advance as one of the best third-placed teams and will face Switzerland in the round of 32, while Group J runners-up Austria take on European champions Spain.
