Mohammad Mohebbi #8 and Mehdi Ghayedi #10 of IR Iran react after the 1-1 draw through the Fifa World Cup 2026 Group G match between Egypt and IR Iran at Seattle Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Seattle, Washington, US. — AFP
KANSAS CITY: Austria and Algeria performed out an exhilarating 3-3 draw on Saturday after two stoppage-time objectives, a consequence that despatched either side into the World Cup final 32 and ended Iran’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage as top-of-the-line third-placed sides.
The drama reached its peak deep in added time when Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez sparked wild celebrations with what he thought was the profitable objective, just for Austria to launch one last assault and snatch an equaliser by Sasa Kalajdzic’s header within the 96th minute, seconds after he entered the sport.
Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” fittingly blared over the Kansas Metropolis Stadium’s loudspeakers after the ultimate whistle within the Group J finale, as either side celebrated.
Argentina topped the group, whereas Austria completed second and can face Spain within the knockout stage. Algeria superior as top-of-the-line third-placed sides and can meet Switzerland.
The 2 groups kicked off degree on three factors, with a draw sufficient to ship Austria and Algeria into the Spherical of 32.
The prospect of a mutually helpful consequence dominated the build-up, prompting irritated responses from each coaches when the topic was raised at Friday’s pre-game press conferences.
The match additionally carried echoes of one of many World Cup’s most infamous controversies, coming 44 years after the “Disgrace of Gijon”, when Austria’s 1-0 win over West Germany in 1982 eradicated Algeria and altered the match ceaselessly.
Nevertheless, few may argue that the 2 groups have been taking part in for a attract Saturday’s back-and-forth thriller.
Arnautovic scores with sport’s first shot on course
Austria opened the scoring by Marko Arnautovic within the twenty eighth minute with the sport’s first shot on course.
The 37-year-old timed his run completely to fulfill a pinpoint lengthy move from David Alaba and, though his first contact was sloppy, Algeria goalkeeper Oussama Benbot was hesitant off his line, permitting Arnautovic to steer the ball dwelling.
Algeria’s Fares Chaibi clattered a shot off the submit late within the first half earlier than the North Africans lastly equalised in spectacular trend by Rafik Belghali simply earlier than halftime.
After Mahrez saved the ball alive close to the byline, Belghali made a blinding run by three defenders earlier than unleashing a blistering shot into the highest nook that Alexander Schlager had little likelihood of stopping for his second worldwide objective.
Ralf Rangnick’s males reclaimed the lead by Marcel Sabitzer within the fifty fifth minute when Konrad Laimer headed the ball right down to his toes earlier than chopping a gorgeous move again to a sprinting Sabitzer, who fired dwelling together with his first contact from 18 metres for his twenty seventh worldwide objective.
The Austrian followers have been nonetheless celebrating when Algeria hit again 5 minutes later.
Houssem Aouar was the architect, surging down the left earlier than chopping the ball again to Mahrez in house, the captain curling a medical end into the highest nook past the helpless Schlager.
Because the clock ticked into the ultimate minutes, whistles and jeers rang across the stadium and a few pissed off followers headed to the exits fearing the match was drifting in direction of the form of mutually handy stalemate each groups stated wouldn’t occur.
That set the stage for a spectacular end, with Mahrez and Kalajdzic exchanging objectives in dramatic trend.
