06/27/26 11:10:00
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06/27 23:06 CDT Austria and Algeria draw 3-3 at World Cup to advance to
knockout round and send Iranians home
Austria and Algeria draw 3-3 at World Cup to advance to knockout round and send
Iranians home
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) --- Austria and Algeria played to a thrilling 3-3 draw
Saturday night in what amounted to a win-win result in their World Cup
group-stage finale, allowing both to advance to the knockout round while
eliminating Iran from the tournament.
The game was tied 2-all in the closing minutes, and Algeria looked as if it was
content to run out the clock, when captain Riyad Mahrez scored his second goal
with about a minute left in stoppage time. That put Austria on the verge of
elimination, only for Sasa Kalajdzic to head in the equalizing goal moments
later and rescue Das Team's World Cup hopes.
Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer also had goals for Austria, which finished
second behind Argentina in Group J to advance for the first time since 1982.
Its reward is a matchup with European champion Spain on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Rafik Belghali also scored for Les Fennecs, who became the ninth of 10 teams
from Africa to advance. They finished third in the group but get a potentially
easier Round of 32 showdown with Switzerland on Thursday night in Vancouver,
British Columbia.
Iran would have advanced as one of the eight best third-place teams had Austria
or Algeria won. But when Mahrez tied the game in the 60th minute, and the 2-2
score held the rest of the way, it was Team Melli that was sent home.
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See more of AP's World Cup coverage here.
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