Ecuador 2-1 Germany: Angulo 9, Plata 77; Sane 2
Ecuador reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in two decades after overturning an early deficit to beat Germany 2-1.
The South Americans needed victory in this game to keep their tournament alive after an opening defeat was followed by a draw, and they responded impressively to falling behind inside two minutes. Germany had already wrapped up top spot in Group E but Julian Nagelsmann declined rotation and named his regular side.
Germany struck when Aleksandar Pavlovic surged past Pedro Vite before slipping the ball to Florian Wirtz, who laid the ball off for Leroy Sane to drill into the bottom left corner.
But Ecuador were defiant and they equalised after only seven minutes. Vite dispossessed Wirtz in midfield before releasing Nilson Angulo, who opened up his body and fired beyond Manuel Neuer from the edge of the area.
Nagelsmann’s side were good in the opening two minutes but after that it was largely all Ecuador, who attacked confidently down both flanks, with Alan Franco and Angulo repeatedly causing problems.
Germany asked a few questions, including when Kai Havertz headed straight at beyond Hernan Galindez before half time and then after the break when he appeared to have won a penalty after a challenge in the box by Joel Ordonez. But a VAR review spotted an earlier foul by Sane on Vite during the build-up and Ecuador had a reprieve.
They soon made the most of it. Thirteen minutes from time a corner kick was flicked on by Kevin Rodriguez and Gonzalo Plata moved quicker than Neuer, tipping the ball beyond him and into the net to spark delirium.
