Ecuador beat Germany to reach World Cup last 32
Gonzalo Plata scored late as Ecuador came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 and qualify as a third-place team, AFP reported.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Ecuador stayed in the World Cup by beating Germany 2-1 in Group E on Thursday, a result that sent the South American side into the last 32, AFP reported. Gonzalo Plata scored the decisive goal with 13 minutes left at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Germany had already secured first place in the group, according to AFP, but the defeat ended an 11-match winning run. Ecuador advanced as one of the eight best third-placed teams after entering the match with one point from their first two games.
Leroy Sane put Germany ahead inside two minutes, finishing from Florian Wirtz’s layoff in the penalty area, AFP reported. Ecuador protested that the move should have been stopped because Aleksandar Pavlovic’s high boot struck Pedro Vite in the head before the goal.
Ecuador answered seven minutes later. AFP reported that Nilson Angulo, the Sunderland winger, collected the ball after Felix Nmecha gave it away in Germany’s half and drove a low 20-yard shot beyond Manuel Neuer.
VAR reprieve and late winner
Germany threatened again through Kai Havertz, who forced a save from Hernan Galindez with a header, AFP reported. Just after halftime, Havertz appeared to have won a penalty when Joel Ordonez brought him down in the box.
The decision was changed after a VAR review, according to AFP, because Sane had fouled Vite earlier in the attack. The overturned penalty kept Ecuador level and left the match open going into the final half-hour.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann introduced Deniz Undav around the hour mark, AFP reported. Undav had scored three goals in the tournament, including both in Germany’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.
Ecuador then pushed for the goal it needed. AFP reported that Neuer stopped a hard shot from Enner Valencia, while a misunderstanding between Neuer and Jonathan Tah almost allowed Kevin Rodriguez to profit. Plata also sent an effort wide after a cross from Moises Caicedo.
Sane had a chance to restore Germany’s lead but shot at Galindez, AFP reported. Ecuador punished that miss from a corner, with Rodriguez flicking the ball on and Plata turning it in from close range in front of Neuer.
Germany heads to Foxborough
Nagelsmann made two enforced lineup changes before the match, according to AFP. Antonio Rudiger replaced Nico Schlotterbeck after the Borussia Dortmund defender was ruled out of the tournament with ankle ligament damage, and David Raum came in for Nathaniel Brown at left-back.
AFP reported that Ecuador’s win put the country in the World Cup knockout stage for only the second time. The largely Ecuadorian crowd in New Jersey celebrated the result, with fans shown in tears after the final whistle.
Germany will play its last-32 match in Foxborough on Monday against another third-placed qualifier, AFP reported. It will be Germany’s first World Cup knockout match since the team won the title in 2014.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.