Plata sinks Germany as Ecuador come from behind to reach the last 32

Germany were already through, already top of the group, and two minutes into their final Group E match they looked like they would sign off with a routine win. Ecuador had other ideas. La Tri came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 at MetLife Stadium overnight, with Gonzalo Plata striking in the 77th minute to complete a comeback that carried Ecuador into the round of 32.

Sané strikes early, Angulo hits straight back

Leroy Sané needed barely two minutes to put Germany ahead in East Rutherford, cutting in and finishing low to settle any early nerves in front of a crowd of 80,663. The lead lasted seven minutes. Nilson Angulo levelled in the ninth, pouncing when Ecuador worked the ball into the box and finishing past the Germany goalkeeper to turn the contest on its head before it had properly settled.

From there it became the kind of game Ecuador have made their trademark at this tournament: compact, physical, happy to soak up pressure and counter. Germany had the better of the possession but rarely cut Ecuador open, and the South Americans grew into the night the longer it stayed level.

Plata settles it late

The winner arrived with 13 minutes left. Plata, lively all evening down the right, found space on the edge of the area and beat the goalkeeper to send the Ecuador end into raptures. Germany pushed for an equaliser they did not really deserve on the balance of play, but Ecuador held firm to claim a result that ranks among their biggest in recent memory.

For a Germany side that had won their first two matches and sealed top spot before kick-off, the defeat stung without doing any lasting damage. They still finished first in Group E on six points, their goal difference of plus six keeping them clear of Ivory Coast at the summit.

What it means for the group

Ecuador’s win lifted them to four points and a third-placed finish, enough to advance as one of the best third-placed teams from the expanded 48-side group stage. Ivory Coast took second after their own 2-0 win over Curaçao, finishing level with Germany on points but behind on goal difference. Curaçao, the tournament debutants, went out with a single point from their three matches.

Germany move into the knockout rounds as group winners but with questions about a defence that has now conceded in each of its last two outings. Ecuador, meanwhile, carry the kind of momentum that makes a third-placed side dangerous, having shown they can frustrate one of the pre-tournament favourites and punish them late.

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