Belo Horizonte, Brazil (PANA) – Algeria may have lost 2-1 in its opening game against Belgium, on Tuesday, in Belo Horizonte, at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but the North Africans broke a goal jinx that had afflicted the country since Mexico ’86.
When the Algerians took the lead in the 25th minute through a penalty kick converted by Sofiane Feghouli, it was Algeria’s first World Cup goal since Djamel Zidane scored against Northern Ireland in 1986.
The Algerians had been scoreless for 506 minutes, just 12 shy of surpassing Bolivia’s record of 517 scoreless World Cup minutes. Algeria had shot into the lead when Belgium’s Vertonghen fouled Faouzi Ghoulam in the penalty box.
The midfielder got up to calmly send Thibaut Courtois the wrong way and spark wild celebrations among the noisy contingent of Algerian fans breaking up the sea of Brazilian shirts sported by the locals.
But the Belgians pushed hard, dominating ball possession.
In the second half, their efforts yielded dividends as substitute Marouane Fellaini helped to break the hearts of a resolute Algeria side when he slammed in the equaliser in the 70th minute.
Ten minutes later, another substitute, Dries Mertens, scored the back-breaking second goal.
Photo: Fifa
