Super-sub Sasa Kalajdzic saved Austria’s World Cup with a last-gasp equaliser after Algeria had stunned their Group J rivals deep into stoppage time in a thrilling 3-3 draw, which saw both sides progress to the last 32 and Iran knocked out.
It seemed Austria and Algeria were happy to settle for a point which suited them perfectly as the clock ticked into the final minute of the scheduled added time – but Riyad Mahrez was suddenly played in on goal and showed no mercy with his finish.
Austria’s players and supporters looked sick, surely eliminated by a goal which would send Algeria second in the group and leave Austria without enough to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
But Austria boss Ralf Rangnick’s last roll of the dice paid off.
He threw on giant striker Sasa Kalajdzic and in the 96th minute, with Austria desperately launching the ball into the Algeria area, Kalajdzic met Michael Gregoritsch’s headed pass to spark wild scenes of celebration.
It was a crushing blow for Iran, who would have been watching on believing Mahrez’s late strike had saved them. But it was pure relief for Austria who had twice led in Kansas City and, despite being twice pegged back, had never looked like going out until the final seconds.
It had been feared this match would have been a pedestrian 90 minutes of two teams playing out a draw. Other than the final result, that prediction couldn’t have been more wrong.
There were twists and turns throughout, with Marko Arnautovic getting in behind to score early on and then Rafik Belghali replying with a fine goal before Mahrez cancelled out a Marcel Sabitzer blast with his first of the night ahead of the stoppage time swings.
After the most incredible finish to the World Cup’s group phase, Austria will now face European champions Spain in the last 32, while Algeria take on Switzerland.
What the result means…
Analysis: A World Cup classic steeped in history and filled with drama
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:
They called it the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’. At the 1982 World Cup, West Germany beat Austria 1-0 in a match where both sides were happy to play out the convenient result which qualified them from the group stages at the expense of Algeria.
In USA, 44 years later, it looked as if Riyad Mahrez had delivered revenge for his country.
Riyad Mahrez scores to make it 3-2 to Algeria deep into stoppage time
Algeria had spent the previous minutes knocking the ball around near the centre circle. Austria’s Konrad Laimer was doing some stretches and his team-mates showed little interest in winning the ball back amid an apparent truce, with the 2-2 scoreline suiting both teams with seconds left on the clock.
But Houssem Aouar saw an opportunity, fed Mahrez and Austria were floored. That they were able to respond with another goal of their own to make it 3-3 was simply incredible. Box office brilliance in the homeland of the movies.
Austria’s players celebrate wildly after Sasa Kalajdzic’s last-gasp equaliser
The most dramatic game of this World Cup. One of the most dramatic ever. A Kansas City classic.
The key moments from Kansas City…
Algeria’s Rafik Belghali celebrates scoring against Austria
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28: GOAL! David Alaba clips a pass over the top and it is easy as you like for Marko Arnautovic to run in behind and scuff a finish past the ‘keeper.
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32: CHANCE! Rafik Belghali gets into the box in the right channel but he drives his shot just wide of the far post.
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33: SAVE! Algeria ‘keeper Oussama Benbot keeps out Konrad Laimer’s shot from a tight angle.
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36: SIDE NETTING! It’s great play from Ibrahim Maza to jink his way into the Austria area but he fires the wrong side of the post.
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40: OFF THE POST! It’s a thunderbolt from outside the box from Fares Chaibi – but he strikes the upright.
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44: GOAL! Phillipp Mwene loses the ball in the corner and Belghali bursts into the box, cuts back and thumps the ball high into the net for 1-1.
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55: GOAL! It’s a fantastic finish from Marcel Sabitzer who meets Laimer’s low pass across the edge of the box with a firm strike.
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60: GOAL! Super play from Houssem Aouar down the left and his cross goes through the box where it is met by Mahrez, who slams in a second equaliser of the night for Algeria.
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90+3: GOAL! Into the final minute of the scheduled stoppage time and after both sides had been seemingly playing for a draw, Aouar played Mahrez through and he showed no mercy with his finish. Austria were heading out, Algeria up to second and Iran into the last 32.
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90+6: GOAL! Sub Sasa Kalajdzic had been thrown on – and seconds later headed in a nodded pass from Michael Gregoritsch to save Austria’s World Cup campaign.
Petkovic: Algeria showed we wanted to win ‘crazy’ game
Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic…
“I think we showed that we wanted to win. Whatever happened, happened. In the end, this result is better for everybody.
“The match was a little crazy, it kind of went beyond the limits of everyone’s endurance. We did well to react twice after conceding a goal.
“What we saw in the first half was the work of a great team. A team that has quality, a team that, everyday, shows how good they are.
“This is the third match that we have played and I am really happy it has happened every single time. But, as I said to the players, let’s celebrate our qualification, let’s rest and then we will begin again for the next round.”
