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Survive and advance: Germany escapes Algeria scare

Jul 10, 2014 - 1:25 AM Porto Alegre, Brazil (SportsNetwork.com) - Germany survived a major test from Algeria on Monday at the Estadio Beira-Rio in the round of 16 as the European heavyweights needed goals from Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil to escape with a 2-1 extra-time win.

Germany was below par for much of the match and had to wait until extra time to finally open the scoring through substitute Schurrle in the 92nd minute.

Ozil added a second goal in 119th minute, and it proved crucial, as the Desert Foxes continued to press and found a goal one minute later through Abdelmoumene Djabou before time ran out and Germany was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

The Germans will now face France in the quarterfinals on Friday, while Algeria is out after nearly becoming the fourth African nation to reach the last eight at the World Cup.

"What did we lack? I'm not too sure," said Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi. "We played against a very strong German team. Eventually we conceded two goals. We're very disappointed because we felt there was something that could have been done even against a great team like Germany."

Algeria was the more dangerous team in the first 30 minutes of the match and Faouzi Ghoulam got into a good position inside the German penalty area before firing a shot wide of the far post.

The Europeans began to get going toward the end of the first half and had a good opportunity in the 41st when a long-range effort from Toni Kroos forced M'Bolhi to make a diving stop, which led to a rebound chance for Mario Gotze that the netminder to did well stop.

M'Bolhi was called upon again in the 55th to tip a first-time shot from Philipp Lahm past the post, while the final 10 minutes also saw Germany create two good chances.

Thomas Muller turned a powerful header on goal from Sami Khedira's cross that M'Bolhi parried, giving Schurrle a rebound opportunity that was blocked.

Muller then sliced a shot wide from 10 yards after bringing the ball down in a dangerous spot inside the penalty area, and the two teams were heading for an extra 30 minutes of play.

It didn't take long for Joachim Low's men to get going at the start of extra time as Muller made his way into the box on the left and delivered a low cross to the front of goal for Schurrle, who finished off the move with a clever back-heel.

Some of the pressure had been taken off Germany with that goal, but Algeria was still dangerous and Mehdi Mostefa pulled a shot wide from close range that would have leveled the contest.

Ozil then eased Germany's nerves by scoring in the 119th minute on the break before Algeria found the net just before the final whistle through Djabou.