Riyad Mahrez gave Algeria a 90th-minute lead, only for Sead Kalajdzic to equalize moments later as the two sides split the points in a breathless 3-3 draw at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Algeria dominated possession and created the cleaner chances across 90 minutes, but Austria’s clinical finishing kept them in it despite a numerical and territorial disadvantage for long stretches. Both teams finish the group stage with a point from this fixture, though neither advances from a group already won by Mexico.
Key Moments
- 11′, Marko Arnautovic picked up a yellow card for roughing, a moment that would shape Austria’s substitution strategy at halftime.
- 28′, Austria opened the scoring through Arnautovic, who converted to give Ralf Rangnick’s side a surprise lead against the run of play.
- 45′, Rafik Belghali leveled for Algeria right on the stroke of halftime, canceling out Austria’s advantage and sending the teams into the break level at 1-1.
- 46′, Austria made three simultaneous changes at the break, pulling off the booked Arnautovic along with Xaver Schlager and Romano Schmid.
- 55′, Marcel Sabitzer restored Austria’s lead with a composed finish, punishing Algeria despite the Algerians’ control of the ball.
- 60′, Mahrez equalized for the second time, his first goal of the evening keeping Algeria in contention.
- 90′, Mahrez struck again in stoppage time to put Algeria 3-2 up, appearing to seal a comeback win.
- 90′, Kalajdzic immediately replied for Austria, heading or converting to make it 3-3 and deny Algeria what would have been a dramatic late winner.
Tactical Breakdown
Algeria controlled this match from the opening whistle. Vladimir Petkovic’s side finished with 65 percent possession, completed 706 of 755 passes at a 94 percent accuracy rate, and generated 12 total shots to Austria’s 10. With an xG of 1.62 compared to Austria’s 1.44, the Fennecs were the more coherent team in the build-up, but they were let down in the final third by poor conversion rates and a goalkeeper who made zero saves, a stat that tells its own story about how freely the goals flowed at both ends.
The pivotal tactical moment came at halftime, when Rangnick stripped out three starters in one move. Arnautovic, already on a yellow, came off alongside Schlager and Schmid. The Austrian bench injection shifted the team’s shape and energy, and Sabitzer’s goal ten minutes into the second half suggested the changes had an immediate effect. Algeria’s response was to bring on Amine Gouiri and Jaouen Hadjam in the 71st minute, moves that helped tilt pressure back toward Austria’s goal and set up Mahrez’s brace to close out the game.
Austria’s vulnerability was a product of their own making. With only 35 percent possession and seven fouls committed, they were forced to absorb sustained pressure and rely on moments of individual quality. It worked twice, with Sabitzer and Kalajdzic both punishing Algeria on the counter or from set situations. But defending with such a low share of the ball against a team as technically polished as Algeria, who passed at 94 percent, was always going to be a thin margin to operate on, and two late defensive lapses nearly cost them before Kalajdzic’s equalizer salvaged a point.
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Verdict
The point does little for either side in the context of this group. Mexico finished with nine points from three wins, leaving Algeria and Austria to share a consolation draw in Kansas City. For Algeria, Mahrez’s brace was a reminder of what he still brings at international level, but Petkovic’s team will know they should have done more with 65 percent of the ball and an xG that outpaced Austria’s. For Rangnick, a 3-3 finish from a position of relative defensive disadvantage is at least evidence of fighting spirit, even if the group stage is over.