The match had lingered in a kind of wary stalemate for half an hour, both sides apparently content that a draw would send them through, when Riyad Mahrez struck what appeared to be the decisive blow for Algeria. It was the third minute of stoppage time, and the veteran forward arrowed a through ball from Houssem Aouar into the far corner, sending the majority of the crowd in Kansas City into delirium. For a fleeting moment, Austria were heading out, and Iran — watching from afar — were in the round of 32. Then, with virtually the last attack of the night, substitute Sasa Kalajdzic rose to meet a looping header from Michael Gregoritsch and nodded the ball past Oussama Benbot. The 3-3 draw, completed in pandemonium, sent both Austria and Algeria into the knockout stage and wrenched away Iran’s hopes.

That stunning coda was the culmination of a match that had swung vigorously all evening. Austria had taken the lead in the 28th minute, a long David Alaba pass releasing Marko Arnautovic, who held his nerve against the advancing goalkeeper. Algeria’s response was tinged with good fortune: a ball ricocheted off the corner flag and stayed in play, eventually reaching Rafik Belghali, who danced past defenders and smashed a left-footed shot high into the net just before the interval. In the second half, Marcel Sabitzer’s crisp drive from the edge of the area restored Austria’s advantage in the 55th minute, but Mahrez levelled again five minutes later, steering home an Aouar cutback with typical precision.

Thereafter the tempo, if not the stakes, dropped. Both teams understood that a point apiece would ensure qualification — Austria as group runners-up behind already-crowned Argentina, Algeria as one of the eight best third-placed sides. The closing stages became a chess match of careful possession, the ball moving sideways under the humid Midwestern sky. Then Mahrez struck again, and the calculus collapsed. Kalajdzic’s header not only rescued Austria’s first progression from the group stage since 1982 but also rearranged the round-of-32 pairings: Austria will now face European champions Spain in Los Angeles, while Algeria meet Switzerland in Vancouver.

The result eliminated Iran, who had drawn all three of their Group G matches and were clinging to the last available slot for third-placed teams. Until Kalajdzic’s intervention, it was Iran who stood to benefit from a Mahrez winner; instead, the final shriek of the referee’s whistle confirmed their tournament was over. As Austrian players piled on top of their hero, the broader tournament picture snapped into focus: two nations had navigated a narrow path, and another had stumbled on the line.