On June 24, 1982, Algeria achieved a remarkable feat by defeating Chile 3-2 during the group stage of the World Cup in Spain. The match featured Algerian dominance, spectacular goals, and marked a historic milestone for the North African team.
At the 1982 World Cup in Spain, the match between Algeria and Chile stood out as one of Algeria’s first major victories on the international football stage. Held at Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo before 16,000 spectators, this Group 2 encounter ended 3-2 in favour of the Algerian Desert Foxes, strengthening their position in a highly competitive group.
The match started strongly: Salah Assad opened the scoring in the 8th minute with an assist from Tedj Bensaoula, then doubled the lead by the 30th minute, set up by Abdelmajid Bourebbou. This quick double put Chile under pressure, struggling to recover. Algeria soon added a third goal, securing an impressive 3-0 lead.
However, the South Americans fought back in the second half. Miguel Ángel Neira scored a penalty in the 59th minute, and Juan Letelier followed with a goal at the 74th, marking his first World Cup goal and giving Chile hope. Despite this comeback, Algeria held firm until the final whistle, earning a well-deserved victory against a more experienced opponent.
This victory was especially significant as it was the first-ever World Cup meeting between these two nations. Under coach Mahieddine Khalef, Algeria displayed offensive football and strong teamwork, finishing with 4 points in the group. Although they didn’t advance beyond the first round, this performance heralded a new era of growing recognition for African football internationally.
