The last game worth a place in the 32-team phase of the World Cup, in the early hours of this Sunday (28), the duel between Algeria and Austria began with the possibility of them playing a “game of friends”, to draw and both qualify for the knockout stages.
On the contrary, the confrontation ended up becoming one of the most exciting spectacles of this edition of the World Cup, with two goals in extra time, the first momentarily eliminating Austria and the second classifying the two teams with a 3-3 draw at Arrowhead Stadium, in Kansas City.
It was up to Iran, which depended on a victory by one side to go to the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-placed teams and ended up eliminated.
With Argentina already assured of first place, Group J had Austria in second place and Algeria in third place, both with 4 points. Thus, the African team entered as one of the best third-placed teams and will face Switzerland next Friday (3).
Austria, in turn, will face Spain, first in Group H, on Thursday (2).
At the beginning of the game, the players gave the impression of a combined game, with plays without much effect and little objectivity in the attack on both sides.
But after the hydration break, the mood changed and the teams started to look more attacking. The Austrians were more organized and soon reached the goal in the 27th minute, with striker Arnautovic.
Alaba made a direct throw from the defense to Arnautovic. On the run, already inside the area, he controlled the ball with one touch and with the toe of his boot took it from goalkeeper Benbot, opening the score.
With the defeat, Algeria would be eliminated, so they went after their rival. At 32 minutes, Belghali received the ball at the edge of the area and hit a low cross, but the ball went out.
At 35 minutes, Maza made a great move, passing three markers, but lost his balance and shot left-handed wide.
Austria remained active in the attack, but without effectiveness. Meanwhile, Algeria increased the pressure and almost equalized after 39 minutes.
On the right, Mahrez pedaled and passed to Chaïbi. The number 10 shot with his left leg and hit Schlager’s left post.
At 43 minutes, Maza had another good opportunity, but the Austrian goalkeeper saved it. Two minutes later, Belghali did not forgive.
Mahrez saved a long ball, which hit the corner flag, and passed to Belghali. The striker entered the area, cut two markers and hit a left into Schlager’s angle, tying the match.
The second half had the same script. Austria took the lead again after 9 minutes. Laimer reached the baseline, on the right, and crossed low to the back. Sabitzer arrived head-on and hit Benbot’s left corner.
This time, however, there wasn’t even time to celebrate, because Algeria equalized again after 14 minutes in a great attacking plan.
Aouar went to the baseline on the left, passed the marker and crossed low to the other side of the small area. Arriving alone, Mahrez shot hard to equalize the score.
Algeria pretends to ‘play with friends’
After the hydration stop, the most exciting part of the confrontation occurred. The Algerian players started passing the ball from one to the other in the midfield, without looking for moves in attack. This even drew boos from the fans in the stands, who thought that a “game of friends” was taking place.
The Austrian players must also have been thinking the same way, as they didn’t press for the ball and just watched.
However, in the 47th minute, Mahrez was launched into the area, he dominated and, facing Schlager, shot into the right corner, making it 3-2 and, at that moment, eliminating Austria from the World Cup.
Was it revenge for the Game of Shame between Austria and West Germany in the Spanish Cup in 1982, which ended up eliminating Algeria itself? Maybe that was the intention, but it wasn’t this time.
At 50 minutes, Austrian coach Ralf Rangnick brought forward Kalajdzic, 2 meters tall, onto the field. In the next play, in a play in the Algerian area, Kalajdzic tested for the goal and tied again: 3-3, to the delight of the fans and players, before the final whistle.
