Austria, Algeria reach World Cup knockouts after 3-3 thriller

KANSAS CITY: Algeria and Austria played out an incredible 3-3 draw in Kansas City on Saturday that ensured both teams qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds and eliminated Iran.

Veteran forward Marko Arnautovic put the European side in front at Arrowhead Stadium but Rafik Belghali levelled shortly before half-time, benefiting from a huge slice of luck.

Marcel Sabitzer restored Austria’s lead with a superb strike but minutes later Algeria were all-square again thanks to former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez.

Both teams appeared to have settled for a mutually beneficial draw in the closing minutes but there was still time for some edge-of-the-seat drama.

Mahrez netted again in the 93rd minute and then, in the final seconds Sasa Kalajdzic, just on as a substitute, headed home – sparking scenes of wild joy from the Austrian squad.

The result means the two teams both finish Group J on four points behind Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who topped the section with nine points.

Austria are in the World Cup knockout round for the first time since 1982 while Algeria have matched their performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Algeria will play Switzerland in the next round while Austria, who finished second in the group, will face European champions Spain.

Conspiracy talk

The build-up to the game was dominated by speculation over whether both teams would try to avoid finishing second in order to swerve Spain, who are one of the favourites to win the World Cup.

Both managers dismissed any suggestion that the match would be rigged at their pre-match press conferences and the nature of the game underlined their case.

The match, played in humid conditions in the American Midwest, burst into life after the first hydration break, which was booed by the largely Algeria-supporting crowd.

Veteran forward Arnautovic broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with the first effort on target.

The 37-year-old controlled a long ball from David Alaba and finished calmly past Oussama Benbot, brought into the team at the expense of Luca Zidane, son of France great Zinedine Zidane.

Algeria were a whisker away from an equaliser in the 40th minute when Fares Chaibi’s powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area smashed off an upright.

But Belghali levelled in the 45th minute, dancing past three Austrian defenders before lashing home.

Algeria were fortunate that the chance came their way – defender Phillipp Mwene tried to shepherd the ball out of play but it ricocheted back off the corner flag and was picked up by Belghali.

The game fell quiet in the early stages of the second half but caught fire again in the 55th minute when Sabitzer finished off a superb team move, striking in home Konrad Laimer’s cross from the edge of the box.

There was another twist five minutes later when Mahrez finished powerfully after fine work from Houssem Aouar, who produced a pinpoint cross.

As the clock ticked down, both teams played cagily, cutting out the risks, knowing a point was enough.

But the late, late drama means Iran, who had hoped to progress as one of the best third-placed teams, are out of the World Cup.