Ecuador delivered a significant upset in their final Group E match, defeating Germany 2-1 to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup. The South American side secured a place in the last 32, qualifying as one of the best eight third-placed teams.
The match, held at the sold-out New York/New Jersey stadium, saw Germany, who had already qualified as group winners, take an early lead. Leroy Sane scored in the second minute, marking his first goal in a major international tournament in his 15th appearance. This early goal came after Florian Wirtz set up Sane following a quick throw-in. Ecuador protested the goal, citing a potential foul by Aleksandar Pavlovic on Pedro Vite, but referee Tori Penso allowed the goal to stand.
Despite the early setback, Ecuador, who had not scored in 39 previous attempts in the tournament, found their breakthrough with their 40th shot. Nilson Angulo curled the ball past Manuel Neuer in the ninth minute, igniting celebrations among their supporters. The equaliser came after Ecuador had faced pressure following a defeat by Ivory Coast and a draw with Curacao.
Second-half drama and winning goal
The second half brought more contentious moments. Referee Penso initially awarded Germany a penalty after Felix Nmecha played in Kai Havertz, who appeared to be tripped by Joel Ordonez. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned due to a Germany foul in the build-up.
Clear scoring opportunities were limited for a period until Gonzalo Plata scored the winning goal in the 78th minute. Plata reacted quickly after substitute Kevin Rodriguez flicked on a corner at the near post, slotting the ball past Neuer and sending the stadium into uproar. Plata expressed his team’s determination, stating, “It was incredible. We had a lot of faith and want our fans to know that there are 26 players here that will give their all for everyone in our country.”
He added, “People packed the stadiums wherever we played and made us feel right at home. They deserve this far more than we do. We struggled a lot in the first two matches but now we’re even more determined. We’ve learnt that you have to give it your all right up to the last minute, even if the goal doesn’t come early on. Today we struggled right to the end and, thank goodness, it went our way.”
German reactions and defensive concerns
Despite the loss, Germany finished atop Group E with six points, ahead of Ivory Coast on goal difference after the African side defeated Curacao 2-0. Germany had been aiming for a third win in three group matches and a 12th consecutive victory, but their defensive vulnerabilities were evident once again, having conceded in all three group matches.
Captain Joshua Kimmich acknowledged the team’s issues, stating, “We keep inviting the opposition in with turnovers, making them look good in the process. Fortunately, no real harm has been done yet. But it’s clear we can’t afford another defeat. We can’t keep conceding one or two goals every game. We need to minimise our turnover rate; then we can beat anyone.”
German coach Julian Nagelsmann dismissed the idea that Ecuador wanted the win more, calling it “nonsense.” However, forward Deniz Undav offered a differing perspective, stating, “I had the feeling they wanted it more than us.” Undav, who came on as a substitute, created two chances for Germany, matching David Raum and Florian Wirtz. Ecuador’s tenacity was highlighted by their success in 50-50 situations and their aggressive defending, which neutralized players like Jamal Musiala, who was dispossessed six times, and Florian Wirtz, whose shots were all blocked.
The match took place on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
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Source: thehindu.com
