A Day of World Cup Drama Goes Down to the Last Kick

Algeria’s gamers had been strewn on the turf, their faces lined, their chests heaving. Their coach, Djamel Belmadi, appeared frozen by shock. Tears streamed from his eyes. The second they’d been ready for, the aim that will ship them to the World Cup, took 118 minutes to reach. They’d their last-minute winner. After which, immediately, so did Cameroon.

Throughout three continents, it was that sort of night: one in every of frayed nerves and quickened pulses, of high-quality margins and small particulars, of beautiful struggling and ideal pleasure. Nowhere was that encapsulated higher than in Blida, a metropolis slightly south of Algiers, the place Algeria and Cameroon took turns breaking one another’s hearts.

The Qatar World Cup has been 12 years, dozens of arrests and one F.B.I. investigation within the making. Its qualification course of has been one in every of interruptions and issues and delays, the outcome first of the coronavirus pandemic after which of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Even now, scarcely eight months out from the event’s opening match, the sector will not be but full, not totally.

Tuesday, although, was the day when a lot of what was left took form. Within the area of six hours, there have been seven slots to be stuffed in Europe and Africa, every of them determined within the straight shootout of a head-to-head playoff. For 14 international locations — and some extra in South America battling for the final hope of an intercontinental playoff spot — this was the end result of the previous two years and extra. This was the second of no return.

A pair nations, in the long run, made it by way of comparatively comfortably. Morocco swept previous the Democratic Republic of Congo. Poland — handed a bye to the ultimate playoff spherical after refusing to play Russia — stirred itself to see off Sweden.

Portugal toiled for some time in opposition to North Macedonia, however seized on the primary alternative it was granted: a single unfastened cross, punished ruthlessly by Bruno Fernandes, appeared to sap the energy of the crew that had conquered Italy only some days in the past. Fernandes scored once more, within the second half, as Portuguese flags fluttered serenely round him, Cristiano Ronaldo safely delivered to his fifth World Cup.

For the remainder, although, there was nothing however pressure and nervousness and dread. Ghana edged Nigeria because of a goalkeeping slip and the truth that Africa, for now, stays wedded to the away-goals rule. Tunisia held on for a goal-less draw in opposition to Mali, its slender victory within the first leg final week sufficient to finish Mali’s dream of qualifying for its first World Cup.

In Senegal, the strain gave the impression to be at its most suffocating. Africa’s qualification course of is uniquely merciless: a protracted, winding collection of group phases adopted by a set of winner-take-all playoffs, drawn at random, with out something as manipulative as a seeding system.

That allowed Senegal and Egypt, then, to face one another: the 2 groups who’re, arguably, the continent’s strongest — they contested the ultimate of the Africa Cup of Nations in February, in spite of everything — and which, more than likely, are dwelling to its two best gamers: Sadio Mané and his membership teammate turned worldwide opponent, Mohamed Salah.

Egypt had gained the primary leg, narrowly, however noticed its lead worn out inside a couple of minutes of the beginning of the second. From that time on, the Egyptians nearly gave the impression to be enjoying for penalties, as if pushed by a need to precise probably the most becoming revenge for the best way they misplaced that Cup of Nations last.

What few alternatives there have been fell to Senegal; all of them had been wasted. The house followers did what they might to tilt the stability, directing a fusillade of laser pointers onto every Egyptian participant, but it surely made no distinction. The clock ticked inexorably on, the sport locked in a stalemate.

When penalty kicks arrived, they underlined how exacting the stress had grow to be. Kalidou Koulibaly, the Senegal captain, hit the crossbar together with his try. For the primary time all night, Senegal’s new nationwide stadium fell silent. Salah — denied the possibility to take one in February — stepped up for Egypt, a certain factor, solely to blaze his shot over the bar. He turned away, tearing at his jersey.

Senegal had a reprieve, and instantly blew it: Mohamed El Shenawy, the Egypt goalkeeper, saving a shot from Saliou Ciss. Irrespective of: Zizo, Egypt’s second choice, confidently despatched his effort broad.

Senegal didn’t show so forgiving a second time round. Ismaila Sarr and Bamba Dieng scored, that means that every thing hung, as soon as extra, on Mané. He had scored the decisive penalty within the Cup of Nations last; he knew, now, that if he did so once more, Senegal would go to the World Cup.

A second later, he was tearing off to the facet of the sector, smoke billowing round him, followers attempting to push previous safety onto the sector. As soon as once more, Mané had delivered the coup de grâce.

However whereas that was the heavyweight conflict, it was in Algeria that the denouement was most frenzied. Cameroon had canceled out Algeria’s lead from the primary leg, forcing the sport to additional time, withstanding something and every thing its host may muster.

Thanks largely to the dedication of its goalkeeper, Andre Onana, it appeared to have executed sufficient to power penalties, just for Ahmed Touba to interrupt its resistance within the 119th minute. Algeria had its late winner. Now, on the final, it stood on the brink. It wanted solely to carry out for a few minutes to make it to Qatar.

It couldn’t. Cameroon launched one last free kick into the penalty space, and Karl Toko Ekambi, the Lyon striker, pressured the ball dwelling. There have been 124 minutes on the clock. It was, successfully, the final kick of the sport, the final kick of the final two years.

Algeria’s gamers sank to the grass, disbelieving, disconsolate. The whole lot they’d labored for, every thing they thought they’d achieved, had disappeared in a flash. They’d arrived on the finish, and there had nonetheless been extra. It had, throughout three continents, been that sort of night.