Trending 
Algeria and Austria booked their places in the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup Round of 32 after playing out a dramatic 3-3 draw in Kansas City on Saturday, a result that also confirmed Iran’s elimination from the tournament.
The draw saw both teams finish Group J on four points, behind group winners Argentina, who secured maximum points from three matches.
Austria progressed to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 1982, while Algeria equalled their best-ever performance by reaching the last 32 for only the second time, matching their 2014 achievement.
Algeria will face Switzerland in the next round, while Austria takes on European champions Spain.
The match appeared destined to end in a draw before late drama unfolded. Riyad Mahrez gave Algeria the lead deep into stoppage time, but substitute Sasa Kalajdzic responded almost immediately to rescue a point for Austria.
Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer described the closing moments as emotionally intense, saying his side had to recover quickly after conceding late before securing the equaliser that guaranteed qualification.
“It’s a draw normally, so you think you go through and then one moment from Algeria…,” he said.
“They also have top quality in the midfield and Mahrez with a very good finish. Then you are emotionally down, but you need to get up until the final whistle.
“We did it and we were very lucky at the end, but very happy about that.”
Mahrez, who was named Player of the Match, said scoring his first World Cup goal was personally significant but stressed that helping Algeria reach the knockout stage was the greater achievement.
Austria opened the scoring in the 28th minute through Marko Arnautovic before Rafik Belghali levelled just before halftime after weaving through several defenders.
Sabitzer restored Austria’s advantage early in the second half with a well-worked team goal, but Mahrez equalised again five minutes later after finishing a cross from Houssem Aouar.
With both teams seemingly content with a draw in the closing stages, Mahrez struck again in added time to put Algeria ahead, only for Kalajdzic to head home in the 96th minute and seal Austria’s place in the knockout rounds.
The result ended Iran’s hopes of progressing as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
