Algeria 3-3 Austria: Mahrez double denied as Austria snatch late leveller

2026-06-29

A six-goal Sunday morning in Kansas City that swung four times and was only settled in the 96th minute. If you were grabbing brunch instead of watching, you missed Riyad Mahrez dragging Algeria back twice before Austria salvaged a point at the death. Group J is now a two-horse race for second behind Argentina, and neither side can feel fully satisfied with the spoils.

Final score: Algeria 3-3 Austria — kick-off was Sunday 28 June 2026, 10:00 AM Singapore time at Kansas City.

The storylines

The headline result is that Austria stay ahead of Algeria in the Group J table, but they will know they let two leads slip and needed Saša Kalajdžić's 96th-minute equaliser to rescue a point. Marko Arnautovic opened the scoring on 28 minutes, only for Rafik Belghali to level on the stroke of half-time. Marcel Sabitzer's 55th-minute strike again put Austria in front, yet Algeria refused to fold. For a side chasing Argentina, dropping points from winning positions stings.

Algeria's afternoon belonged to Riyad Mahrez, who answered Austria's every punch. After Sabitzer restored the lead, Mahrez equalised on the hour, then struck again on 93 minutes to seemingly snatch the win. It was a captain's performance, the kind that lifts a side still searching for its first points haul of the group. That Kalajdžić cancelled it three minutes later was cruel, but Algeria leave with belief that their attacking talent can trouble anyone in this tournament.

The numbers underline how close everything remains. Argentina sit clear on nine points, having beaten both these sides, while Austria's six points and Algeria's three keep the runners-up berth alive. Austria's bold half-time triple change — three substitutions at once — signalled intent to win rather than manage, and it briefly worked through Sabitzer. But the inability to defend two separate one-goal cushions, capped by Mahrez's late double, exposes a fragility Austria must fix before they meet Argentina's level again.

The tactical battle

Austria's gamble was the trio of changes at the break — Gregoritsch, Wanner and Grillitsch all introduced at once — a clear push to seize control after a level first half. The energy told through Sabitzer's goal, but the reshuffle never tamed Algeria's transitions, where Mahrez found space to score twice. David Alaba's arrival on 62 minutes steadied things briefly, yet Algeria kept punching through the middle, forcing Austria into the late, desperate Kalajdžić leveller.

Players to watch

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) — Scored twice, including a 93rd-minute strike, and remains Algeria's chief creative and goalscoring threat.
Marcel Sabitzer (Austria) — His 55th-minute goal restored Austria's lead and he drove their midfield throughout.
Saša Kalajdžić (Austria) — His 96th-minute equaliser rescued the point that keeps Austria above Algeria.

What's at stake

With Argentina nine points clear, this was a fight for second place in Group J. Austria's point lifts them to six, three ahead of Algeria, who now trail in the runners-up race. Jordan remain pointless and adrift. Neither Austria nor Algeria can afford another slip if they want to follow Argentina into the knockout rounds.

Key moments

11' Arnautovic booked for Austria
28' Arnautovic heads Austria in front
45' Belghali levels on the stroke of half-time
46' Austria make a triple change at the break
55' Sabitzer restores the Austrian lead
60' Mahrez equalises for Algeria
93' Mahrez strikes again to lead
96' Kalajdžić rescues a point for Austria

FAQ

What time is Algeria vs Austria in Singapore? Sunday 28 June 2026, 10:00 AM Singapore time (SGT).

Where is Algeria vs Austria being played? At Kansas City.

What is the head-to-head record between Algeria and Austria? Both sides arrived having lost to Argentina, and this meeting effectively decided the early pecking order behind the group leaders. The draw keeps Austria narrowly ahead.