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Algeria’s star player has been forced to defend scoring a late World Cup goal in a 3-3 draw with Austria that nearly knocked out the European side in chaotic scenes.
The sides met in their final Group J clash in Kansas City on Sunday knowing that a draw would send both nations through at the expense of Iran.
Complicating matters, both teams knew that an outright win would send that team into a knockout clash with competition heavyweights Spain over lower-ranked Switzerland.
Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez appeared almost sheepish when speaking post-match about a goal that briefly put his side ahead 3-2 – and threatened to eliminate Austria – with just minutes remaining.
Former Manchester City star Mahrez’s 93rd minute strike was met with slightly muted celebrations from his teammates.
It came after Algeria had played about 110 consecutive passes over the course of five minutes, with the Austrians barely pressuring their opposition as the seconds ticked toward a draw that suited both teams.
“It was a bit awkward to be honest,” Mahrez, 35, said after the game.
“We were playing wide and they were sitting.
“But at the last minute someone plays a ball inside and he turns, I have to make the run.
“I have to respect football and the ball arrive in front of the keeper, I have to score. I have to try to score.
“Like they try to score, they were in front. They were winning 2-1.
“I know it’s an awkward situation but it’s football – I have to respect it.
“But … a good thing for them is they score and they qualify. We both qualify and it’s the most important thing today.”
Austria substitute Sasa Kalajdzic managed to equalise in the 96th minute with a last gasp header that was effectively the final act of the game.
Footage taken from the crowd showed hot-headed Austria striker Marko Arnautovic having to be held back by his manager Ralf Rangnick as he remonstrated toward the Algerian bench after the equaliser
An Algeria staff member could be seen blowing kisses and shushing toward Arnautovic and the opposition dugout.
It meant Austria hung onto second spot, with Algeria qualifying in third, ending Iran’s tournament who had needed one side to win in order to make the knock out rounds.
Austria now face Spain in the round of 32, and Algeria play Switzerland.
Some fans have speculated that part of the awkwardness for Algerian players after Mahrez’s late goal, his second of the match, was because they were at the time staring down a clash with tournament favourites Spain.
Iranian fans have also accused Algeria of allowing Austria to equalised as part of a “rigged” result that knocked out the Middle Eastern nation.
Austria had twice led in the match, with Arnautovic putting the Europeans ahead in the 28th minute before Rafik Belghali equalised on the stroke of half time.
Marcel Sabitzer restored Austria’s lead but Mahrez pegged them back again in the 60th minute, with both sides apparently content with a point until the stoppage time flurry.
Austria manager Rangnick appeared surprised at the late push from Algeria in his post-match comments, saying: “I don’t know how it came about”.
But he slao strongly denied claims that the teams were playing for a mutually beneficial draw.
“Three minutes to play, if somebody had said this would happen, you would have told them they were mad,” he said.
“I’ve been a coach for about 40 years and I don’t even remember a match that had such a dramatic course and such an unexpected trajectory.
“Most anticipated 0-0 or 1-1, and now it’s 3-3. It’s incredible. The locker-room is madness.
“If Alfred Hitchcock had written such a drama, I probably would have said he was completely mad.”
Rangnick said with six goals in the game “I don’t think anyone can imagine that it was an agreement of anything like that, especially when you saw the last 90 seconds”.
He offered condolences to Iran who he believed deserved to go through.
Meanwhile, Austria midfielder Sabitzer described the closing moments as “weird”.
“It’s a draw normally, so you think you go through and then one moment from Algeria,” he said. “We did it and we were very lucky at the end, but very happy about that.”
Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic told reporters “it was football that won”.
“I’m extremely happy that, at the end, it was football that won, that prevailed – 3-3 as a score says it all,” he said.
