Algeria tried to crack the Russian defence by going
through the middle to no avail. Russia was full of energy and hard running as
they pressed high up in front. The strategy was to get as many players behind
the ball as possible. They kept compact by quickly closing any gaps and options
before the Africans could pounce.
The Africans played a patient game for the
suitability of the occasion and that made them create less opportunities. There
were a few possibilities that were not fully utilised, especially aerial balls.
The Russians were content to let the Algerians shoot from way out. Their midfield
job was superb as they took control of that department in terms of tight marking,
intercepting, getting to the ball first and picking up the second ball. They
dominated the duels and completed more quality forward passes.
The continued pacey game by Russia troubled the slow
and calculative Algerians. Brute force of the Europeans team could not be
matched by the desperate Africans tired their level best to wrestle the match.
As they probed the right and then the left, the Russians showed some cracks as
they could not cope with sleek skills, conceding free-kicks.
Feghouli won one free-kick on the right and Djabou
won another on the left immediately afterwards. Brahimi took a nice
right-footed delivery to the far post for Slimani to head past a sprawling Frei
to level the score. There was no man to mark the scorer tight and the
goalkeeper came off his line for the ball but he missed it completely.
It became an open match, action swinging from end to
end. Algeria were resolute and solid closing all available spaces and clonking
the balls away and Russia were committed to prying open that which stood
between them and the next round. They starred directly into the barrel as the
Africans pulled the trigger. Algerian passed through to join Nigeria as Africa’s
representative in the last sixteen.
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