Algeria beat Korea to close in on last 16

Algeria took a huge step towards qualifying for the knockout round of the World Cup for the first time with a thrilling 4-2 Group H win over South Korea in Porto Alegre on Sunday.

Sunday, June 22, 2014
Yacine Brahimi (centre) slots the ball into the bottom corner to put Algeria 4-1 up. Net photo

Algeria took a huge step towards qualifying for the knockout round of the World Cup for the first time with a thrilling 4-2 Group H win over South Korea in Porto Alegre on Sunday.

Islam Slimani, Rafik Halliche and Abdelmoumene Djabou gave Algeria a 3-0 halftime lead before the Koreans scored with their first shot on goal, Son Heung-min turning smartly in the box to fire between Rais Mbolhi's legs in the 50th minute.

Yacine Brahimi found the net just after the hour to restore Algeria's three-goal cushion, making them the first African side to score four goals in a World Cup game, before Koo Ja-cheol pulled another goal back midway through the second half.

Algeria are second in Group H on three points, ahead of the Koreans and Russia, who each have one. Belgium beat Russia 1-0 earlier on Sunday to seal their spot in the next round.