The sheer impossibility of what we just witnessed:
Algeria and Austria both advance with a tie, Austria in 2nd Algeria in 3rd. Second has to play Spain, so Algeria actually prefers to tie than win, and either is out with a loss, so a 0-0 tie is almost a foregone conclusion. The books have tie at +100.
Iran is sitting at home, desperately hoping that somehow one of the teams finds a single goal to knock the other out and keep Iran in the competition.
The game starts as we expected, with the teams aimlessly kicking the ball around but Austria finds a fluke goal to go up 1-0 and give Iran hope.
Then, just as quickly, Algeria rips one back, 1-1 at half, each team seems warned of the dangers of attacking and content to park their respective busses and take the draw.
And yet Austria scores again! Iran's hope, lasts 5 minutes, as Algeria equalizes in the 60th.
They spend the next 30 minutes wandering around, not applying pressure on either side, waiting out the draw.
We are now in the 93rd minute (4 mins of stoppage time), and Algeria is standing with the ball, waiting for the game to end. They have zero (negative!) incentive to score, since they'd rather preserve the tie and secure 3rd than get 2nd and face Spain. Austria likewise has zero incentive to apply any pressure, and is also standing, waiting for the game to end.
Out of NOWHERE, Algeria springs an attack and scores a goal to put Austria out and Iran back in. Feels like a billion to one that they score here with a lot to lose by winning and absolutely everything to lose by potentially losing.
Then, with one posession remaining before the final whistle, Austria just... goes down and scores an incredible goal at the buzzer to tie it right back up.
A tie, just like everybody expected, but with six of the unlikeliest world cup goals ever scored. Absolute heartbreak for Iran in an already heartbreaking WC.
These videos coming out of KC from last night and today fill me with so much pride.
This city is in the heart of what most consider "flyover country", and because of that, there's nothing better than the world getting to see why it's worth a visit.
Surreal.
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Even though I already speak five languages my wife got me a Duo Lingo subscription for my birthday last month but I got a refund because Arc Raiders does the same thing for free. JAJAJAJAJAJA!! 🇩🇪🤝🇲🇽