Algeria vs Russia Live Scores, Video Highlights: Islam Slimani, Kokorin Score; Algeria Progress, Russia are Eliminated from World Cup 2014

Algeria drew with Russia 1-1, and will progress to the round of 16.
Algeria vs Russia Live Scores, Video Highlights: Islam Slimani, Kokorin Score; Algeria Progress, Russia are Eliminated from World Cup 2014
Islam Slimani of Algeria (L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates Essaid Belkalem (C) and Carl Medjani (R) during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group H match between Algeria and Russia at Arena da Baixada on June 26, 2014 in Curitiba, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
6/26/2014
Updated:
6/26/2014

Algeria drew with Russia 1-1, and will progress to the round of 16.

With the draw, Algeria have made history by being the first North African team in the knock-out round of the World Cup.

Check out the highlights below.

Aleksandr Kokorin’s 6th minute header puts Russia in the lead. Dmitriy Kombaro provided the assist with a cross.

 Islam Slimani equalized for Algeria in the 60th minute with a header. Yacine Brahimi provided the assist via a corner kick. 

See an Associated Press match report.

Algeria into 2nd Round After 1-1 Draw With Russia

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Algeria has qualified for the World Cup knockout stages for the first time, with Islam Slimani’s headed equalizer giving his team a 1-1 draw against Russia on Thursday and enough competition points to reach the second round.

Algeria placed second in Group H behind Belgium with four points, meaning it will meet Germany in the Round of 16.

The victory prompted mass celebrations on the pitch among the players, and had coach Vahid Halilhodzic shaking his head with disbelief.

Russia, needing a win to advance, went on the attack from the start and dominated the first half with its intricate and swift passing movements through midfield. The Russians took the lead as early as the 6th minute when Alexander Kokorin powerfully headed in a left-foot cross from Dmitry Kombarov.

Slimani’s 60th-minute equalizer came after Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev failed to catch a swinging left-foot free kick from Yacine Brahimi. That was the second costly error that Akinfeev has made in the tournament for Russia.

However, there were indications on the TV broadcast that a green laser was being shone toward the goalkeeper just before the free kick was taken.

Russia coach Fabio Capello later said his goalkeeper was “blinded by the laser beam.”

Brahimi had troubled the Russia defense consistently until his substitution late in the game. Along with midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, he helped neutralize much of Russia’s attacking intent through the second half.

Before Algeria’s equalizer, Russia had chances to double its lead, notably in the 26th minute when Oleg Shatov weaved through the Algeria midfield but his right-foot shot drifted wide of the Algeria post.

Russia hasn’t qualified for the second round of the World Cup since 1986 when it played under the umbrella of the Soviet Union.

Algeria came closest to qualifying for the second stage at the World Cup in 1982, but West Germany and Austria played out a result that suited both of those teams. The European teams, meeting a day after Algeria had won its last group game, knew that a 1-0 win for West Germany would put both through to the second round at Algeria’s expense. It remains one of the most contentious group games in the tournament’s history.

 

Larry Ong is a New York-based journalist with Epoch Times. He writes about China and Hong Kong. He is also a graduate of the National University of Singapore, where he read history.
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