Wolves striker scores dramatic late World Cup goal to send Austria to knockouts

Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic scored a dramatic 96th minute equaliser to save Austria’s World Cup campaign.

Austria and Algeria were seemingly set to play out a 2-2 draw, until former Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez was played through on goal and netted in the 93rd minute to put the African side ahead.

With Austria needing a late response, head coach Ralf Rangnick rolled the dice by bringing on towering striker Kalajdzic in the 95th minute and he was rewarded a minute later when the super-sub sparked jubilant celebrations with a close range header.

The draw meant Austria finished second in Group J and progress to the last 32, where they will face Spain on Thursday.

Algeria also progressed despite finishing third, while the result meant Iran were knocked out.

Austria led twice in the game in Kansas City, scoring through Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer, but they were pegged back twice with equalisers from Rafik Belghali and Mahrez, before Mahrez thought he had won it with his last gasp finish.

Former Wolves player Rayan Ait-Nouri was a second half substitute for Algeria and was pictured with Kalajdzic at full-time.

Kalajdzic is one of seven current Wolves players that has represented his country in this World Cup.

David Moller Wolfe and Norway have also progressed and play Ivory Coast on Tuesday, while Jose Sa and Portugal face Croatia on Friday.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Haiti), Ladislav Krejci (Czechia), Hwang Hee-chan (South Korea) and Santi Bueno (Uruguay) have all been eliminated.

Kalajdzic spent last season on loan at Austrian side LASK, where he scored six goals in 29 appearances to help his side win the league and cup double.

The 28-year-old has suffered two serious knee injuries since signing for Wolves in 2022 and has a year left on his contract, although there is the option to extend it by a further year.

He is set to return to Compton for pre-season next month, once Austria’s World Cup campaign is over and he has been given a break, ahead of a decision on his future.

New Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto is set to run the rule over the squad and decide the futures of a number of players, including Kalajdzic.

The player himself hinted at a potential Wolves return next season, in an interview earlier this month.

He said: “I am looking forward to the conversations I am going to have. If I am there, I will give it my all.

“Maybe it is unfinished business. At the end of the day we will see what happens in the summer and what is the best for both.”

He also revealed that Wolves’ sporting director Matt Jackson had visited him earlier in the season.

Kalajdzic added: “I was very, very happy about that. When the sporting director of a club comes, it gives you a lot of confidence.

“It means a lot they came and I told him that. It gives me a sign you are still looking at me and seeing me as a player of your own.

“That’s what they said to me. They said you never know what is going to happen but right now you are our player. It was a big gesture.

“I hope Wolves will bounce back next season because they belong in the Premier League.”