Algeria ands Austria played out perhaps the best game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far as the Group J rivals drew 3-3 in a nerve-wracking encounter.
Riyad Mahrez appeared to have won it for the Desert Warriors in third added minute when he made it 3-1, but Das Team responded through Sasa Kalajdzic another three minutes later draw.
It was absolute pandemonium at the Kansas City Stadium as Algeria were seemingly finishing as group runners-up but Austria fought back to force a share of the spoils.
Interestingly, both teams qualified for the Round of 32: while Ralf Rangnick's side came second in their group, the Algerians qualified as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Marko Arnautovic broke the deadlock for Austria after in the 28th minute after David Alaba sent him through on goal as the former raced clear of the Algerian backline to tap it home beyond goalkeeper Oussama Benbot.
But shortly before half-time, Rafik Belghali restored parity for Algeria after Faris Chaibi rattled the post and Ibrahim Maza had a close-range shot saved.
Dancing his way around the Austrian defense, Belghali displayed excellent ball-control and some nimble footwork before firing it beyond goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Just 10 minutes into the second half, Borussia Dortmund star Marcel Sabitzer made it 2-2 with a lovely finish from just outside the box after being teed up by Konrad Laimer.
With the Algerian defense completely exposed on the break, Sabitzer had the clearest view of the goal and shot it with enough power to place it into the bottom corner.
Just five minutes later, the game took another turn as Riyad Mahrez brought Algeria level once more with his first ever FIFA World Cup goal.
With no further goals to separate the sides, the match was heading towards a 2-2 draw and Mahrez struck in the third minute of stoppage-time to seemingly win it for Algeria.
Former Lyon star Houssem Aouar found Mahrez unmarked inside the area and squared the ball to him amid a host of red shirts surrounding Aouar.
Mahrez made a powerful first-time finish into the bottom corner beyond Schlager, who tried to close down the angle but to no avail.
But, there was one final twist in the tale: Kalajdzic soon made it 3-3 for Austria with a header from 12 yards out as the Algerian defense was once again in complete shambles.
A cross was played in on the edge of the byline, which Michael Gregoritsch headed it back into play for Kalajdzic, and the striker placed his header perfectly on target to cut Algeria's celebrations short.
Despite the heartbreaking conclusion to the game, Ramy Bensebaini and Algeria were through to the knockout stages and will face Switzerland in the Round of 32 on Thursday, 2 June in Vancouver.
Sabitzer's Austria have a challenging fixture against reigning European champions Spain in Inglewood on the same day.
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