Last-Minute Dynamo: Mahrez Imitates Ronaldo to Lift Algeria Past DR Congo in AFCON Thriller

Match Drama: Mahrez's late moment fuels Algeria's quarterfinal run

Riyad Mahrez, star of the Algeria squad, drew every eye with a dramatic moment against DR Congo at Moulay Hassan Stadium, as the Desert Foxes clinched a killer goal to seal the win.

Algeria moved past the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations, now hosted in Morocco, earning a fiery quarterfinal date with Nigeria on Saturday.

Mahrez logged 70 minutes before making way for Anas Haj Moussa, and he handed the armband to defender Aissa Mandi, ready for a new mission with his country.

In the closing minutes, the Foxes star was spotted near the Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic on the touchline, offering tips as if he was still on the bench with them.

In the 114th minute, the moment showed Mahrez by Petkovic in a side exchange about the match, seemingly urging the introduction of Adel Bolbina and Ramiz Zurouqi.

Indeed, Petkovic then sent in Bolbina and Zurouqi for Hicham Boudaoui and Fares Chaibi, tilting the balance in Algeria's favor; with penalties looming, fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Algeria mounted a final push in the 119th minute of extra time; the ball found Zurouqi, who fed Bolbina inside the box, and Bolbina struck a powerful shot with his right foot into the top-right corner for the winner.

The Algerian fans compared that moment with Cristiano Ronaldo's performance in Euro 2016 final, when the Portuguese star mentored the team from the bench after an early injury.

Ronaldo, like Mahrez, was later seen whispering advice to Fernando Santos and guiding his teammates in a scene that echoed Mahrez's on the field.

Punchline: If football had a soundtrack, that goal would be a drum solo—snare the nerves, then boom, a winner. Punchline 2: Algeria just discovered a new one-minute warning: "Hold my cleats."