KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Austria and Algeria engaged in a captivating 3-3 draw on Saturday night, turning their World Cup group-stage finale into a spectacle and securing passage to the knockout stages for both. This result simultaneously dashed Iran’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament.
The match was deadlocked at 2-2 as the final moments approached. Algeria appeared to be settling for the draw until Riyad Mahrez dramatically scored his second goal during stoppage time. This momentarily placed Austria on the brink of elimination, but Sasa Kalajdzic’s timely header soon after ensured Austria’s World Cup journey continued.
Austria also benefitted from goals scored by Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer. By securing the second position in Group J, just behind Argentina, Austria advanced to the knockout stage for the first time since 1982. They now face a challenging clash with European champions Spain on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Rafik Belghali’s goal added to Algerian joy, as they emerged as the ninth out of ten African teams to move forward. Though finishing third in their group, Algeria’s next challenge in the Round of 32 will be against Switzerland on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia, potentially favoring them.
Iran stood a chance to qualify as one of the top eight third-place finishers, had either Austria or Algeria clinched victory. However, Kalajdzic’s late equalizer seal the draw, eliminating Team Melli and delivering a crushing end to their campaign.
The first three World Cup matches at Arrowhead Stadium had seen the home of the Kansas City Chiefs flooded in the light blue of Argentina, yellow of Ecuador and highlighter orange of the Netherlands. But in Kansas City’s group finale, the Algeria green and red of the Austrians were complemented by thousands of locals just happy to score a less expensive World Cup ticket.
Many of those locals appeared to be rooting for Algeria, which has made its training base in nearby Lawrence, Kansas, and has struck up a unique friendship with the small college town home to the University of Kansas.
Few of those new fans of Les Fennecs probably know about the “Disgrace of Gijón.”
Yet longtime Algeria supporters had been waiting 44 years for some World Cup revenge. At the 1982 tournament, Austria and West Germany seemingly quit playing after the latter took a 1-0 lead, because that outcome ensured both would advance at the expense of Algeria, which protested to FIFA to no avail and was eliminated from the World Cup.
Some were curious whether the expanded 48-team field would result in a “Disgrace of Kansas City,” because both teams knew by kickoff that a draw would send them through. Instead, the crowd of 69,045 was treated to a dramatic 90-plus minutes.
Austria struck first when Arnautovic perfectly timed his run between the two Algerian center backs, found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Oussama Benbot, and overcame a stumble to score his record-extending 49th career goal for his nation.
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Algeria answered just before halftime, when Belghali’s left-footed shot easily beat Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
The frenetic pace continued in the second half on a hot night in Kansas City.
Not content with a 1-1 draw, Austria’s Konrad Laimer sent a sharp pass across the field that Sabitzer finished to regain the lead — and give Iran some hope — only for Algeria to answer minutes later, when Mahrez scored off a perfect cross from Houssem Aouar.
Algeria took control down the stretch, playing keep-away as the crowd grew antsy. But just when it seemed both teams were happy to run out the clock, Mahrez and Kalajdzic provided them with some lasting fireworks in stoppage time.