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CURITIBA: A combination of images shows ’s Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic gesturing during a Group H football match between Algeria and Russia yesterday. — AFP

FAN FERVOR Algeria, Belgium book last 16 Slimani sends Algeria through at Russia’s expense

CURITIBA: Islam Slimani headed an denied the Italian three points after holding Capello’s England to a ecstatic Algeria into the last 16 of the goalless draw in South Africa four years ago. That time it was England World Cup for the first time with a 1-1 who went through but yesterday belonged to Algeria, their fans draw against Russia yesterday that praying for the match to end and erupting at the final whistle. dumped Fabio Capello’s team out of the tournament. On a momentous Vertonghen gives 10-man night for the North Africans, who were Belgium perfect third win the last team through to the In another development, Jan knockout rounds with Vertonghen’s late goal gave 10-man Belgium already quali- Belgium a 1-0 victory over South fied as Group H Korea and a 100 percent record leaders, Algeria in World Cup Group H. The recovered from Belgians kept the upper hand an early throughout the game Alexander despite losing Porto mid- Kokorin goal to fielder Steven Defour, advance. The point, in a tense who made no protest match at the Baixada Arena with every- over his sending-off thing still at stake and 2018 hosts Russia need- just before half- ing a win to go through at Algeria’s expense, was all time for a two- the ‘Desert Foxes’ needed to make history. With footed challenge. Belgium finishing on nine points, Algeria, who face Substitute Divock Germany for a place in the quarter-finals, ended Origi, who scored the winner against Russia, with four to Russia’s two and South Korea’s one. again made a forceful impact. He powered in the The draw was all they deserved but it came shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 77th after an early setback, with Kokorin meeting a minute that Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu beautifully-flighted Dmitry Kombarov cross to could not hold, giving Tottenham centre-back nod in a perfectly-executed header in the sixth Vertonghen a simple shot in. Belgium finished minute. Algeria, whose Bosnian-born coach top of Group H with nine points and now play Vahid Halilhodzic had called the match the United States in the round of 16 in Salvador most important in the country’s soccer histo- on Tuesday.— Agencies ry, rarely threatened in the first half and looked a shadow of the side who thumped four goals past the Koreans. Slimani had an effort Last 16 Teams tipped over the bar by goalkeeper in Algeria the 30th minute but the linesman had already Argentina flagged for offside and Algeria’s other tame Belgium attempts had Halilhodzic gesticulating furiously Brazil from the touchline. Chile It all changed in the second half, though, Colombia with Algeria looking far sharper before the goal Costa Rica and then resisting the pressure. Slimani seized France his chance in the 60th minute with a powerful Germany header at the near post from a Greece free kick that Akinfeev failed to reach. Capello Mexico had made just one change to the side who lost Netherlands 1-0 to Belgium, handing a first start of the tour- Algeria's forward Nigeria nament to veteran striker Alexander Kerzhakov Islam Slimani Switzerland in place of Maxim Kanunnikov but the goals United States failed to flow. Instead, Algeria once again Uruguay