Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 to advance to the World Cup last 32 | World Cup 2026

Germany finished top of Group E, with Ivory Coast second and Ecuador in contention for third place.

Ecuador kept their World Cup campaign alive as Gonzalo Plata’s winner completed a memorable 2-1 win over Germany and sent the South American nation through to the last 32.

Leroy Sane’s brace fired Germany ahead less than two minutes into Thursday’s Group E clash, but Ecuador hit back with a fine save from Sunderland winger Nilson Angulo.

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Plata then took off with just 13 minutes remaining, sparking wild celebrations on Thursday from the Ecuadorian crowd in New Jersey as the South Americans ensured they would advance as one of the eight third-placed teams.

Germany travel to Foxborough for their last-32 match against the third-placed team on Monday, their first World Cup knock-out since lifting the trophy in 2014.

Julian Nagelsmann made two injury changes, while Antonio Rudiger replaced Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck after he was ruled out of the World Cup with ankle damage.

David Raum came on for Nathaniel Brown at left-back, but Nagelsmann refused to try to start Deniz Undav despite his heroics off the bench against the Ivory Coast when he played. scored both goals in a 2-1 win.

Germany, who are already top of the group, took the lead in what upset Ecuador, who are fighting to stay in the competition after picking up one point from their first two matches.

Sane headed home Florian Wirtz’s first-time effort, but Ecuador were furious that a foul was not awarded earlier, as Aleksandar Pavlovic caught Pedro Vite in the head with a high boot.

The decision to concede the goal drew the ire of Ecuador, who leveled the score seven minutes later when Angulo fired past Manuel Neuer from 20 yards after Felix Nmecha lost his own half.

Kai Havertz challenged Hernan Galindez with a header and then was awarded a penalty less than 30 seconds from half-time when Joel Ordonez brought down the Arsenal striker in the box.

VAR intervened in the incident, leading to Ecuador’s relief, and the shot was overturned after a foul on Sane on Vite in the build-up.

Nagelsmann turned on Undav on the hour, the German’s top scorer with three goals so far in the tournament, but Ecuador knew they had to throw caution to the wind.

Enner Valencia’s fierce effort was beaten away by Neuer, before a defensive mix-up opened the door for Ecuador.

A mix-up between Neuer and Jonathan Tah almost allowed Kevin Rodriguez to slot in, and Plata headed home the ensuing cross from Moises Caicedo.

Sane had a glorious chance to put Germany back on top but Galindez shot over, and Ecuador made the most of that escape as Plata stepped up to make the save.

Rodriguez pounced on a corner, and Plata stabbed home from in front of Neuer to end the German’s 11-match winning streak and secure Ecuador’s place in the knockout stages for the second time, prompting tears of joy from their fans at the venue.