World Cup: Iran out as Algeria, Austria advance to knockout stage

Austria and Algeria played to a thrilling 3-3 draw on Saturday night in what amounted to a win-win result in their World Cup group-stage finale.

The result allowed both teams to advance to the knockout round while eliminating Iran from the tournament.

The game was tied 2-2 in the closing minutes, and Algeria looked as if it was content to run out the clock, when Riyad Mahrez scored his second goal with about a minute left in stoppage time.

The goal 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.

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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 matchup 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 Kalajdzic scored in stoppage time to tie the game one last time, it meant Team Melli was eliminated in hearbreaking fashion.