Algeria, Russia set sights on knockout round (TSN 1050, TSN 690, TEAM 1410) Curitiba, Brazil - Russia and Algeria will close out the group stage of the World Cup on Thursday with a crucial Group H clash at the Arena da Baixada, with both sides hoping to secure a knockout round berth. Algeria enters the match riding a wave of unexpected confidence after pummeling South Korea, 4-2, in Porto Alegre on Sunday. The Desert Foxes opened the scoring after 26 minutes as Carl Medjani sent a long ball over the top to the feet of striker Islam Slimani, who did well to split two South Korean defenders and touch it past goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong. Two minutes later the Algerians doubled their advantage when Abdelmoumene Djabou served a perfect corner kick into the penalty area where Halliche got to the ball ahead of an out-of-position Jung and nodded it home with pace. Djabou then made it 3-0 for Algeria seven minutes before the intermission when he found himself alone in the box to accept a square ball from Slimani and slide it home for a three-goal halftime lead. South Korea got back into the match five minutes into the second half when Son Heung-Min collected a long pass from Ki Sung-Yueng, turned and beat Algeria goalkeeper Rais MBolhi through the legs. But Algeria regained the three goal lead in the 62nd minute as Sofiane Feghouli and Yacine Brahimi worked a nice one-two on the edge of the penalty area to send Brahimi through on goal and he finished by ripping a strike under Jung. Again South Korea pulled one back through Koo Ja-Cheol, but it wasnt enough as the Desert Foxes held on for the win. Vahid Halilhodzics side can advance to the round of 16 on Thursday with at least a draw. "I would like to dedicate this victory to the fans who were here and the Algerian people back home who have waited a long time for this victory. It means a lot to us all," Halilhodzic said."Today the team played to its strengths. I told the players to keep it tight for the first 15 minutes and I felt that did extremely well and effectively in the first half - it was almost perfect. We slowed a little during the second half, why Im not sure. Now we have to try to get a good result against Russia and qualify for the round of 16. Anything is possible." Russia, meanwhile, faces an uphill climb to reach the knockout round following their 1-0 loss to Belgium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. The first 80 minutes of the match produced little in the way of offensive output for either side, but Divock Origi gave the match its one moment of quality two minutes from time to hand Belgium its second win in as many games. Chelsea star Eden Hazard set the scoring play in motion when he ook possession of the ball on the left wing and dribbled to the end line, where he pulled a pass back to Origi, who struck it first-time into the roof of the net past goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. Russia needs to win to have any chance of advancing. A one-goal win for Russia means that South Korea would have to beat Belgium by three, while a two-goal margin for Russia makes them a near lock to advance. Anything less than a win, however, and Fabio Capellos team will be eliminated. "I still believe we have a chance, but we now have no choice but to beat Algeria," said Capello. "Today we went out to win the match, but we got caught on the counter-attack - its as simple as that." Justin Bethel Jersey . Patrick Deslisle-Houde and David Rose each scored in the second to give the fourth-seeded Redmen a 3-1 lead after Jean-Philippe Mathieu scored in the first. Calvin Ridley Falcons Jersey . This game was inside. 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The Washington Nationals right-hander hopes thats the worst of what comes out of Friday nights outing. Zimmermann abruptly left his start in the fourth inning of a 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies with a right biceps injury. Zimmermann, who is scheduled to participate in his second straight All-Star game, will be evaluated further on Saturday but isnt expected to pitch Tuesday in Minneapolis, according to manager Matt Williams. Zimmermann (6-5), who had Tommy John surgery in August 2009, called the Nationals training staff out after he threw a pitch to Cameron Rupp with one out in the fourth. He showed no obvious discomfort, but left the mound after a short discussion with the training staff and Williams. He doesnt feel the problem is related to his shoulder or elbow. "It was gradually getting worse with every pitch," he said. "I knew something wasnt right. I didnt want to push it too far." He said not pitching in the All-Star game would be a disappointment. "Obviously, you want to go," he said. "I had all my plans made and I wanted to pitch in front of my family. But the main thing is to get healthy." Zimmermann left after allowing four runs and six hits. He threw 53 pitches, 36 for strikes. "I feel OK now," he said. "I dont think its anything major. Hopefully, the MRI comes out good." Bryce Harper homered for the Nationals, who have lost three of four. Zimmermann has a 1.26 ERA since June 1 with 46 strikeouts and seven walks in 50 innings over seven starts. But he gave up four runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings against the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins homered twice and A.J. Burnett pitched 7 2-3 strong innings to lead the Phillies to their fifth straight victory. Burnett (6-8) allowed two runs and five hits while striking out six and walking four. He improved to 10-4 with a 3.37 ERA in 19 career starts against Washington. "Hes been tough on us and he was good tonight," Williams said. "He had everything working, and he knows how to pitch." Domonic Brown doubled and drove in two runs for Philadelphia, which matched its longest winning streak of the season. It has been a surprising run for the Phillies, who had lost 113 of 16 before a four-game sweep of the NL Central-leading Brewers in Milwaukee.dddddddddddd Philadelphia hasnt lost since general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. predicted changes, calling the teams offence "poor." The hitters have responded by averaging 6.2 runs over the winning streak. Brown gave Philadelphia the lead with a two-run double in the second and the first of Rollins homers, a two-run shot to right, put Philadelphia in front 4-0. Rupps RBI double off Craig Stammen in the sixth put Philadelphia ahead 5-0 before Harper broke out of a 1-for-22 slump by leading off the seventh with a homer to deep right to pull Washington within 5-1. It was just the second homer of the season for Harper, who missed 57 games due to a thumb injury. Rollins got the run back in the bottom of the inning, just clearing the wall in right for his ninth career multi-homer game. "Were playing good ball," Burnett said. "Its good to see this team clicking on all cylinders." As with the rest of the starters, Burnett has been a victim of lack of run support this season. So the recent outburst is nice to see. "You go about your business the same, but its definitely better to get some runs," he said. Batting leadoff and playing centre field, Grady Sizemore went 1 for 4 with a single in his first game with the Phillies after being called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The three-time All-Star whose career was derailed by injuries had been released by the Red Sox last month after batting .216 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 52 games. The 31-year-old missed all of the 2012 and 2013 seasons due to an assortment of injuries. After leaving Thursdays game at Baltimore after getting hit by a pitch on his right thumb, Washingtons Ian Desmond didnt play Friday. Desmond entered Friday leading all shortstops in the majors with 55 RBIs. NOTES: Philadelphia improved to 19-27 at Citizens Bank Park, where they have struggled this season. ... Rollins last hit two homers in a game on Aug. 1, 2012, at Washington. ... Washingtons Wilson Ramos extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a fifth-inning single. ... The Phillies also won five straight from June 16-20 at Atlanta and St. Louis. ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-6, 3.47) opposes Phillies LHP Cole Hamels (3-5, 2.87) on Saturday night. Cheap Jerseys Online Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping ' ' '