Schmid, Friedl & Co. secure round-of-32 spot right at the death

Austria secured their place in the last 32 of the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA with a dramatic last-gasp equaliser in a 3-3 draw against Algeria. Ralf Rangnick’s side fought until the very end of a thrilling contest. Romano Schmid started the game and was replaced at half-time, while Marco Friedl was an unused substitute.

A draw at the sold-out Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City would have been enough to send both teams through. The game made a quiet start, with little happening in either final third during the opening stages.

Austria’s Marco Arnautović provided the first flashpoint when he caught Aïssa Mandi with a borderline elbow and was shown a yellow card (11’). Rangnick’s side then took the lead from almost nothing shortly before the half-hour mark. After David Alaba’s curling effort, Arnautović held off his marker well before slotting past Oussama Benbot from the left side of the box (28’).

Algeria began to pose more of a threat after falling behind. Ibrahim Maza went close following a solo run (36’), before Frankfurt’s Farès Chaïbi rattled the post (40’). The African side then drew level before the break. Riyad Mahrez did well to keep the ball in play near the corner flag and picked out Rafik Belghali, who finished neatly inside Alexander Schlager’s near post from five yards (45’).

Austria head coach Rangnick made three changes at the break, with Schmid among those withdrawn. After both sides had taken a little time to settle, Austria regained the lead. Marcel Sabitzer controlled Konrad Laimer’s square pass before calmly guiding a waist-high finish into the right side of the net from 16 yards (55’). The game was now becoming increasingly open, however, and Algeria captain Mahrez soon made it 2-2 (60’).

Clear-cut chances were scarce for much of the remainder of the game, with the draw keeping both teams on course for the last 32. That changed deep into stoppage time, when Mahrez latched on to a clever through ball and put Algeria 3-2 ahead (90’+3).

That scoreline would have knocked Austria out of the World Cup, but the game was not over yet. The four indicated minutes of stoppage time had already elapsed when Rangnick’s side produced one final moment of drama. Michael Gregoritsch headed a cross from the left back across goal, where Saša Kalajdžić, who had come on just a minute earlier, nodded home the equaliser (90’+6). The 3-3 draw secured Austria’s place in the next round.

Rangnick’s side will now face tournament favourites Spain in the first knockout round this Thursday at 21:00 CEST.