Late drama sends Austria and Algeria into World Cup knockouts to break Iran hearts

Before a ball was kicked, the nicknames for this match were rampant. A biscotto was one – an Italian classic implying something that has to be baked twice; one cooperating with the other. Or maybe you preferred the “Disgrace of Kansas City”, recalling the “Disgrace of Gijón”, a callback to the 1982 World Cup where West Germany settled for a 1-0 win over Austria in a result that qualified both teams for the knockout round while eliminating Algeria.

But what unfolded here was something else altogether. A new classic of the genre. Call it the “Missouri Compromise”. On a steamy night in the American midwest, Algeria and Austria battled gamely, showing heart and desire for most of the match en route to a back-and-forth 3-3 draw that qualified both teams for the knockout round. It came at the expense of Iran, whose brief jubilation at Riyad Mahrez’s goal in the third minute of added time was abruptly ended by a Sasa Kalajdzic header with practically the last action of the match.

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