Fan disorder mars Algeria's cup warm up

Jun 4, 2014 - 10:34 PM World Cup-bound Algeria beat Romania 2-1 in a warm-up match on Wednesday marred by widespread fan disorder.

The teams were taken off the field after 43 minutes with the score 1-1, and Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic went to the center circle to broadcast an appeal for fans to stop throwing lit flares and bottles.

Referee Nikolaj Haeni of Switzerland brought players back after a 15-minute break to play the final two minutes of the first half, then immediately changed ends to start the second period.

When El Arabi Soudani scored the decisive goal in the 66th minute, around 15 fans ran on to the pitch from three sides of the Stade de Geneve.

Nabil Bentaleb had put Algeria ahead in the 21st minute after a handling error by Romania goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, and Alexandru Chipciu leveled in the 28th.

"The result is very satisfying. The team is progressing on all levels," said Halilhodzic, adding he was "a bit disappointed with the behaviour of our supporters."

The final whistle brought around 1,000 of the 15,600 spectators on to the field. Many dispersed when water sprinklers were turned on, though some continued to clash with stewards in one corner of the pitch.

Algeria opens against Group H favourite Belgium on June 17 in Belo Horizonte. It then plays South Korea in Porto Alegre and Russia in Curitiba.

Source: AAP