Austria and Algeria have pulled off one of the greatest escapes in World Cup history, conjuring up a thrilling 3-3 draw that sent shivers down the spines of fans watching around the globe. The humdinger of a match had it all – twists, turns, drama, and late, late drama that left everyone on the edge of their seats.
The pre-match anxiety had been palpable, with whispers of a repeat of the infamous 'Disgrace of Gijón' from 1982 haunting the proceedings. But those fears were laid to rest as both teams put on a captivating display that defied expectations and delivered a genuinely nail-biting encounter.
The match burst into life in the 28th minute when Marko Arnautovic's clever touch from David Alaba's delivery gave Austria the lead. Algeria hit back with an equaliser from Farès Chaïbi, but the Austrians regained their advantage thanks to Youcef Atal's own goal.
The second half was a heart-stopping affair, with Riyad Mahrez levelling the scores for Algeria and setting up a frenzied finale that had fans on tenterhooks. As the clock ticked down, it seemed like a late Riyad Mahrez strike would seal Iran's fate, but Austria's Sasa Kalajdzic had other ideas – heading in an equaliser deep into added time to spark scenes of pure pandemonium.
Austria will head into the next stage on cloud nine, their first qualification for the second round since that infamous 1982 tournament. Algeria, meanwhile, are back in the knockout stages after a six-year wait, and both managers – Ralf Rangnick and Vladimir Petkovic – were left shell-shocked by the match's dramatic conclusion.