How the last qualification place was decided by five minutes of chaos

Source : ABC NEWS

Algeria has become the final third-placed team to book its place in the World Cup knockout stages, but it was a last-gasp Austrian goal that broke Iranian hearts on a night of other-worldly drama.

It was a chaotic, remarkable spectacle that hearkened back to one of the most infamous moments in World Cup history. 

This is how all the action unfolded as Algeria and Austria swapped stoppage-time goals to finish 3-3 in Kansas City.

The final 90 minutes of group-stage action began with all of Austria, Algeria and Iran hopeful of qualifying for the knockout stages, with two slots still up for grabs — one for the runner-up in Group J and one for the competition’s eighth-best third-placed side.

However, it was only Austria and Algeria with the ability to influence proceedings, with Iran’s group stage already having drawn to a close with a highly dramatic 1-1 draw with Egypt on Saturday.

The Iranians would have clinched knockout-stage qualification with a victory over the Pharaohs, but saw both a goal chalked off for offside and a header smash into the crossbar in second-half stoppage time.

So, the fingernails of the Iranian players were undoubtedly in for a harrowing evening as Austria and Algeria prepared to kick-off in Kansas City.

For both Algeria and Austria, the equation was simple: avoid defeat and qualify for the knockout stages.

This meant a draw was good enough for both sides, while a result either way would have thrown the loser out of the competition, paving the way for Iran to sneak into the knockout rounds as the final third-placed qualifier.

Ghosts of Gijon

For FIFA, whose expanded 48-team World Cup had come in for significant criticism due to its lopsided nature, this was exactly the kind of fixture they would have been hoping to avoid.

With Argentina having already claimed top spot in Group J and with an argument to be made that the team to finish third in the group would have an easier Round of 32 fixture than the team to finish second, there was no clear incentive for either side to go for the win.

For football fans of a certain vintage, the unlikely scenario had shades of a match that would eventually become known as the Disgrace of Gijon.

And in some sort of bizarre historical quirk, it was both Algeria and Austria also at the heart of that story. 

At the 1982 World Cup, at a time when final group stage matches were not played simultaneously, Austria and West Germany conspired to progress at the expense of Algeria.

With the Algerians having finished their group stage a day earlier, the two European sides were aware that a 1-0 win for West Germany would send them both through to the knockout rounds.

Sure enough, West Germany went 1-0 up, the game petered out into nothingness, and the Algerians were sent packing.

Thankfully, we weren’t treated to an American remake in Kansas City.

How things unfolded

But it was a far from inspiring start in Kansas City, with both teams reluctant to push too far forward and offering very little in the final third.

We reached the first-half hydration break with the sides combining for just 0.02 expected goals, and with the Iranian players, watching from their base in Mexico, undoubtedly beginning to sweat.

But the game burst into life not long after the restart, with veteran Austrian striker Marko Arnautović getting on the end of a lofted through ball and sliding the ball home.

With Austria 1-0 up, it was Iran on course for the knockout stages.

But with the game now alive, Algeria pressed forward and did enough to find an equaliser in the shadows of half-time.

It was, once again, another massive slice of World Cup misfortune for the Iranians, who watched on helplessly as an Algerian ball forward was only kept in after rebounding off the corner post.

The Austrian defence was flummoxed, and Rafik Belghali did brilliantly to make his way into the penalty area and rifle his shot home.

With the scores locked at 1-1 at half-time, both sides were once again poised for progression, and with no clear incentive to push forward.

But after 10 minutes of nothingness to begin the second period, Austria once again hit the front.

This time, it was Marcel Sabitzer, striking sweet and true after an Austrian break down the right.

However, Iranian fans barely had time to celebrate the effort, with Algerian superstar Riyad Mahrez calmly slotting home only moments later.

It was a first-ever World Cup goal for the former Manchester City player.

The remarkable finale

We reached the second-half hydration break with the scores still level and with both teams still on course for the knockout stages.

And if there were any doubts surrounding how the sides would approach the game’s fourth quarter, they were dispelled by Algerian manager Vladimir Petković bringing on three defenders at the final break.

After that, we were treated to almost 20 minutes of the most tepid, pedestrian and uninspiring football likely ever to be played at a World Cup.

Austria gave up on playing completely while Algeria was content to knock the ball around midfield. This match was surely petering out.

However, somehow, in the third minute of stoppage time, Algeria stumbled through an opening in the Austrian defence.

Mahrez was played in on the edge of the penalty area and his side-footed effort rippled the back of the net, finally, sweetly and remarkably exacting some revenge on Austria from the Disgrace 42 years earlier.

But once again, the Iranian players barely had time to thank their lucky stars.

Austria pushed forward, hoofed the ball upfield, and with what turned out to be the very last touch of the game, found the back of the net through Saša Kalajdžić.

Relief for the Austrians, who qualified as runners-up in Group J.

Jubilation for the Algerians, who became the final third-placed team to progress.

Heartbreak for the desperately, desperately unfortunate Iranians.