Super-sub Sasa Kalajdzic saved Austria the World Cup with a last-minute equalizer after Algeria shocked their Group J rivals in a 3-3 draw, sending both teams through to the last 32 and Iran being eliminated.
Austria and Algeria looked delighted to get a deserved point as the clock ticked down to the final minute of extra time – but Riyad Mahrez was brought down on goal and showed no mercy with his finish.
Austria’s players and fans looked sick, having been denied a goal that would have put Algeria second in the group and left Austria without enough to qualify as one of the third-placed teams.
But Austria manager Ralf Rangnick’s final roll of the dice paid off.
He threw in the big striker Sasa Kalajdzic and in the 96th minute, Austria eagerly placed the ball in the Algerian area, Kalajdzic met Michael Gregoritsch’s header and there were scenes of jubilation.
It was a terrible mistake for Iran, who would have watched believing that Mahrez’s late strike had saved them. But it was pure relief for Austria who had led twice in Kansas City and, despite being pegged back twice, never looked like going away until the final seconds.
It was feared that this match would last 90 minutes with two teams playing in a draw. Regardless of the final result, that prediction could not have been more wrong.
There were twists and turns, with Marko Arnautovic getting in behind to score early on and Rafik Belghali responding with a fine goal before Mahrez canceled out Marcel Sabitzer’s first strike of the night before stoppage time.
After an impressive finish in the group stage of the World Cup, Austria will face European champions Spain in the last 32, while Algeria will face Switzerland.
What does the result mean…
Analysis: A classic World Cup steeped in history and full of drama
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:
They called it the ‘Gijoni Scandal’. In the 1982 World Cup, West Germany beat Austria 1-0 in a match where both sides were happy to play an easy result that eliminated them from the group stage where they were defeated by Algeria.
In the USA, 44 years later, it looked like Riyad Mahrez had avenged his country.
Algeria spent the last few minutes hitting the ball around the center circle. Austria’s Konrad Laimer was doing something and his teammates showed little interest in winning the ball back amid an apparent tussle, with the score line 2-2 for both teams with seconds left on the clock.
But Houssem Aouar saw an opportunity, fed Mahrez and Austria filled the floor. The fact that they were able to respond with another goal that made it 3-3 was unbelievable. Box Office brilliance in the world of movies.
Austria’s players celebrate after Sasa Kalajdzic’s late goal
The most amazing game of this world cup. One of the most amazing ever. Old Kansas City.
Highlights from Kansas City…
Algeria’s Rafik Belghali celebrates scoring against Austria
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28: GOAL! David Alaba sticks the pass up and it’s as easy as you like for Marko Arnautovic to run in behind and finish off the keeper.
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32: OPPORTUNITY! Rafik Belghali enters the box in the right channel but drives wide of the far post.
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33: WAIT! Algeria goalkeeper Oussama Benbot saves Konrad Laimer’s shot from close range.
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36: THE SIDE NET! Good play from Ibrahim Maza to get into the Austrian area but he shot the wrong goal.
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40: Delete POST! There was thunder outside the box for Fares Chaibi – but he hit the target.
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44: GOAL! Phillipp Mwene lost the ball in the corner and Belghali broke into the box, cut and hit the ball into the net at 1-1.
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55: GOAL! Great finish from Marcel Sabitzer who meets Laimer’s low pass on the edge of the box with a powerful strike.
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60: GOAL! Houssem Aouar’s great play went down the left and his cross went into the box where he was met by Mahrez who scored Algeria’s second equalizer of the night.
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90+3: GOAL! In the last minute of stoppage time and after both sides appeared to be playing on a level playing field, Aouar played with Mahrez and showed no mercy with his finish. Austria came second, Algeria came second and Iran came out of the last 32.
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90+6: GOAL! Sub Sasa Kalajdzic was thrown over – and seconds later he headed in Michael Gregoritsch’s curling ball to save Austria’s World Cup campaign.
