Algeria
AustriaThis was a match that both teams could and should have won, and chose instead to share every heartbeat of it — Algeria led twice and Austria twice responded, then Austria led and Algeria levelled, until Mahrez struck in the third minute of stoppage time only for Kalajdzic to cancel it two minutes later. The historical weight of the 1982 Disgrace of Gijón gave the fixture an extra dimension, but unlike that notorious agreement, both sides competed fiercely for a result, and the 3-3 draw that emerged sent Algeria and Austria into the round of 32 while eliminating Iran. Four minutes of stoppage time held ninety minutes worth of drama.
Algeria
Algeria were the better team across ninety minutes, controlling 60 percent of the ball and creating enough chances to have won more comfortably than the scoreline suggests — Rafik Belghali's 41st-minute equaliser was direct and powerful, and Riyad Mahrez, captaining with authority from the right flank, delivered two crucial goals including a 90th-minute strike that appeared to have sealed the win. Houssem Aouar provided the decisive pass for Mahrez's second, threading through Austria's defence with the precision of someone who understood the moment. They earned their place in the round of 32, even if the final seconds stole the victory.
Austria
Austria were disrupted early — Arnautovic scored with a clinical 28th-minute finish but picked up a yellow card and was withdrawn at half-time in Rangnick's bold triple substitution, a gamble that immediately paid dividends when Konrad Laimer's run created the assist for Marcel Sabitzer to restore the lead in the 55th minute. The defining moment of Austria's tournament arrived in the 95th minute: substitute Sasa Kalajdzic, barely on the pitch, met Michael Gregoritsch's cross with a towering header to make it 3-3 and send both teams through to the knockout round. It is precisely the kind of last-gasp drama that defines Austrian football at its most stubborn.