​Austria’s Marko Arnautović opened the scoring in the 28th minute, sliding the ball under the advancing goalkeeper to give his side the lead. Soon after, the 36-year-old nearly doubled Austria’s advantage but fired wide. Algeria pressed for an equalizer, with Fares Chaibi hitting the post in the 40th minute, and then Rafik Belghali’s eventual breakthrough came five minutes into the second half as he curled in after a scramble to level the match. Marcel Sabitzer looked to have given Austria the lead again with a neat finish from Konrad Laimer’s pass in the 55th minute, but Riyad Mahrez equalized for Algeria five minutes later to make it 2-2.
The drama intensified in stoppage time when Mahrez completed his brace to seemingly seal the victory for Algeria, which would have sent them through and left Austria on the outside. Yet Sasa Kalajdžić, who had come on just five minutes earlier, produced a dramatic equalizer in the 96th minute, scoring with his first touch after entering the pitch to keep Austria alive in the World Cup. “I don’t have words right now, to be completely honest. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like this before,” said Austria coach Ralf Rangnick, praising the late fightback that left the final result at 3-3 and sent both teams through to the knockout stage.
Austria finished second in Group J and will face Spain in the round of 16, while Algeria advanced as one of the best third-placed teams to meet Switzerland. The draw also meant Iran failed to reach the knockout rounds. In the group’s other match, Argentina, already guaranteed top spot, defeated Jordan 3-1, with Lionel Messi netting late after coming on in the 60th minute and scoring in the 80th to extend his World Cup scoring record and mark a return to form for the title holders. The stage is set for Argentina’s clash with Cape Verde in the next round.