Dejan Ljubičić and Austria reach the round of 32

Austria snatched a place in the World Cup round of 32 with a last-gasp equaliser in their final group game. Schalke midfielder Dejan Ljubičić was an unused substitute in the 3-3 draw with Algeria.

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Austria celebrate their last-minute equaliser

The situation going into the game was clear: a draw would send both second-placed Austria and third-placed Algeria through to the first knockout round. The two sides took time to settle in front of a sell-out crowd of 69,045 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, before Marko Arnautovic fired Austria ahead with a shot into the far corner after 28 minutes.
Algeria responded before the break, however. Rafik Belghali cut inside in the penalty area and found the near corner to make it 1-1 (45’). Marcel Sabitzer restored Austria’s lead with a strike from the edge of the box after the restart (55’), but Ryad Mahrez equalised for the North Africans just five minutes later (60’).
The score remained 2-2 until stoppage time, when Mahrez struck again in the 93rd minute to put Algeria ahead and leave Austria on the brink of elimination. But Sasa Kalajdzic, who had only come on a minute earlier, headed home in the 96th minute to make it 3-3 and spark wild celebrations as Austria secured their place in the round of 32.

Spain await on Thursday

Austria finished second in Group J and will now face Group H winners Spain on Thursday (02/07). Kick-off at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is scheduled for 21:00 CEST. The winners will meet either Portugal or Croatia in the last 16 the following Monday.

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