Russia and Algeria both squared off in their final Group H fixture in Curitiba with a place in the last sixteen at stake. For the Russians, nothing less than a win and favourable results for group winners Belgium in the other encounter between them and the Korea Republic would guarantee their progression. The Algerians on the other hand were in a slightly better position because only a draw in this game coupled with a Belgian win or draw against Korea Republic would be enough for them to advance to the last sixteen. It was the Russians who made the brighter start, as a ball played into the Algerian penalty area from Kombarov found Kokorin whose thumping header gave Rais in the Algerian goal no chance. 1-0 Russia in as early as the 6th minute and Fabio Capello’s men had the lead and one foot in the second round. The Algerians were not to be outdone though as the Russian ‘keeper Akinfeev was forced to come to his team’s aid in the 14th minute to block a potentially dangerous Algerian build-up and the Russians’ lead was preserved. In the 19th minute another promising Russian attack was squandered as a header from Kokorin went just wide.
Algeria would come again though, and a promising attack in the Russian area in the 29th minute won a corner which Akinfeev had to save to keep Russia in the game.. In the 39th minute the Russians won a free kick in the Algerian half but the ball was cleared and the score remained 1-0. In the 42nd minute the North Africans won a corner, but Slimani’s header from Brahimi’s in-swinger went straight into the hands of Akinfeev. It would be the best chance for the North Africans in the half as both teams went in at the interval with the Europeans a goal to the good. At the resumption the Russians made a change as Denisov came off the bench to replace Glushakov. In the 47th minute Samedov broke from the Russian midfield and played a neat one-two with Kokarin. The Russian number 19 found himself one on one with Mbolhi but the Algerian ‘keeper thwarted the midfielder. It would be a wasted opportunity that the Russians would later regret. In the 57th minute Kombarov of Russia found himself in the referee’s book for tugging on an Algerian player’s shirt. Kozlov would be the second Russian receiving a yellow card for a challenge on Djabou. Algeria would soon find themselves on level terms though, as Slimani’s powerful header from the resulting free kick would put the North Africans level. It was the Algerians now who had the advantage as a 1-1 score would be enough to carry them to the knockout round. The Russians had to come again with 27 minutes remaining.
They made another change in the 67th
minute as Dzagoev replaced Shatov in an effort to revive Russia’s fleeting
World Cup fortunes. Algeria would follow suit in the 71st minute as
Yebda replaced Brahimi. Ghilas would then come off the bench for the Algerians
to replace Djabou. Russian would then make their final substitution in the 81st
minute as Kerzhakov was replaced by Kannunikov. It was now or never for the Russians
as time ticked away on the clock. Their World Cup survival was now hanging by a
thread. Russia would win a free kick in the 87th minute as a
challenge by Ghilas earned him a yellow card. The opportunity was wasted though
as the Algerians tried to hold on desperately and earn the point which would
send them to the last 16. Russia got a corner in 91st minute, but the ensuing header would go wide as the Algerians tried their utmost to
hang on for the draw.
At the end it would be the Maghreb nation celebrating; as they would join Nigeria as Africa’s
only representatives in the round of 16. A meeting with the Germans in Porto
Alegre on Monday awaits them. For the Russians though, they’ll have to wait
until 2018 when they host the next tournament to see if they can advance out of
the group stage at a World Cup for the first time in the post-Soviet era.
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