Austria and Algeria both qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup after a six-goal thriller in Kansas City.
Playing last, both nations knew that a point would see them through which led to fears of a drab 0-0 stalemate.
But that could not be further from the truth.
Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic described the Group J match as “a little crazy,” after both teams served up the most chaotic finish of the tournament so far.
Austria took the lead twice, opening the scoring in the 28th minute through veteran Marko Arnautović, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and poke home David Alaba’s lofted pass. Algeria fought back just before the break when right-back Rafik Belghali pounced on a loose ball after it struck the corner flag, dazzling three Austrian defenders to fire into the roof of the net.
Austria reclaimed the upper hand courtesy of a brilliant curling strike from Marcel Sabitzer. However, their lead lasted only five minutes as Houssem Aouar teed up Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez for a tap-in at the back post.
With both teams knowing a point would secure passage to the knockouts, the game hit a lull until a breath-taking finale.
Algeria looked to have clinched victory with a 93rd-minute goal to make it 3-2, as Mahrez swept home his second of the night following an explosive counter-attack. But with Austria facing elimination and seconds remaining, 6ft 7in substitute striker Saša Kalajdžić bundled home an equalizer three minutes later in stoppage time with practically his first touch of the game.
That meant Iran – who thought they had a reprieve just moments earlier – miss out.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick said the game’s extraordinary finale should silence any conspiracy theories.
“In this match, when you have a 3-3, nobody can assume that it was an agreement, and especially what we saw during the last 90 seconds,” he said.
“It sort of went beyond the limits of everyone’s endurance,” Petkovic added.
By sealing a point, Austria advanced as Group J runners-up to face Spain, while Algeria progressed as one of the best third-placed teams. The North Africans will now face Switzerland in the round of 32, meaning Petkovic is set for an emotional meeting with a side he coached from 2014 to 2021.
“Switzerland is a great team… I do know them, even if there are new faces, some of them played with me, so I know these players,” Petkovic said.
He added, however, that his immediate focus was recovery rather than Algeria’s next opponent.
“Let’s rest and then we will begin again for the next round,” he said.
