Germany booked a quarter-final meeting with France after extra-time strikes from Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil saw them edge past Algeria to win 2-1 in Porto Alegre.
Algeria had the better chances of the opening 45 minutes with Germany struggling to cope with their pace on the break. Islam Slimani did manage to beat Manuel Neuer with a flying header, but his effort was ruled out for offside, while Faouzi Ghoulam fired inches wide from inside the area as Vahid Halilhodzic's men threatened to upset the odds.
Chelsea's Schurrle replaced Mario Gotze at the break and he immediately caused problems among the Algeria defence as his deflected effort looped behind for a corner before Rais M'Bolhi tipped a Philipp Lahm strike over the bar with a fine one-handed save.
Thomas Muller twice came close as M'Bolhi palmed away his towering header before firing wide from inside the area, and Bastian Schweinsteiger then headed Lahm's floated cross into the arms of the Algeria stopper with Germany becoming increasingly frustrated in front of goal.
With the deadlock still to be broken, the game entered extra-time but it took Germany just two minutes to open the scoring as Schurrle met Muller's low cross and guided it beyond the helpless M'Bolhi with a deft flick from inside the area.
Ozil then wrapped things up late on from close range when he blasted home after Schurrle's effort was intially scrambled off the line, but second-half substitute Abdelmoumene Djabou did manage to pull one back for Algeria late on with a powerful volley.
Algeria's plan to hit Germany on the break was clear from the off and Slimani sneaked in behind Per Mertesacker following a long punt up field, but luckily for the Arsenal defender, Neuer sprinted off his line and put in a superb sliding tackle well outside his area.
Mesut Ozil: Added late second
Feghouli then showed Jerome Boateng up, turning the former Manchester City defender in the box, but he could only shoot wide.
Algeria thought all the early pressure had paid off when Slimani headed El Arbi Soudani's cross in and Algeria coach Halilhodzic flung his arms in the air, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Still, Algeria continued to pile on the pressure on the counter and once again, they punted the ball long. Mertesacker failed to control it and Feghouli raced free, only for Neuer to dash out of his box and clear.
M'Bolhi then kept Algeria in it with two saves in quick succession just before a frantic first half came to an end.
Schurrle came on for Mario Gotze at the break and made an immediate impact, latching on to Thomas Muller's pass, but his deflected shot flew just wide. Germany were dominating possession, but they could not beat M'Bolhi, who then pulled off an outstanding save to deny Lahm on the hour.
The Algerians' pace still made them the most dangerous side in the second half and Neuer had to come racing out of his area for a third time to deny Slimani with his head.
Germany had two great chances to win with 10 minutes of the 90 left, but M'Bolhi saved Muller's header and Schurrle's follow-up was blocked on the line.
Algeria: Suffered World Cup anguish
Schweinsteiger should have won the game in the final minute of normal time, but he fired a free header straight at the Algeria goalkeeper.
Moments earlier Muller embarrassingly fell over as part of a free-kick routine and it appeared as though nothing was going right for the Germans, but that all changed less than two minutes into extra-time.
Muller pinched the ball off Algeria full-back Aissa Mandi and squared for Schurrle, who flicked the ball beyond M'Bolhi with his instep.
The Algerians tired, but they kept looking for the equaliser. Mostefa shot just wide when he should have tested Neuer.
Ozil scored in the final minute to give Germany a two-goal cushion, but Djabou then turned home Feghouli's cross to give Algeria a glimmer of hope.
There was not enough time for Algeria to find another though and Germany progressed, with France now awaiting them in the Maracana.
No comments:
Post a Comment