Ecuador 2-1 Germany
Ecuador are set for the World Cup 2026 knockout phase after an incredible win over Germany on Thursday evening, a result which gives them four points and a guaranteed place in the last 32.
Germany were already through to the Round of 32 but manager Julian Nagelsmann made few changes and so Ecuador were facing a side with power and momentum. But La Tri finished second in the South American qualifiers, ahead of Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil and they commanded respect from the off, knowing they needed a win to advance.
At a packed MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Germany took an early lead through Leroy Sane but Ecuador levelled instantly as Nilson Angulo scored a speculative equaliser. Ecuador needed that win to grab a knockout place and they threw everything at it in the second half and when Gonzalo Plata gave them a 77th minute lead the El Tri fans went crazy.
Highlights of the game
We’ve had some odd refereeing and VAR situations in this World Cup and in the third minute of this match we had another. Florian Wirtz worked well to win the ball and squeezed a pass to Sane, and he fired a beauty into the bottom left corner from 15 yards. There was plenty of controversy in the build-up as Germany midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic caught Ecuador’s Pedro Vite with a high kick; but neither referee of VAR saw it…apparently.
La Tri hit back rapidly as Sunderland striker Angulo picked up the ball some 30 yards out and managed to fire his shot through a defender’s legs and into the corner of the net beyond Manuel Neuer’s despairing dive. And a 1-1 scoreline at the break was nothing more than Ecuador deserved as they battled for every ball, disrupting Germany’s rhythm and getting on the attack whenever the opportunity arose, while manager Sebastian Beccacece prowled his technical area like a hungry tiger.
The Ecuador boss went through a rollercoaster of emotions in the first minute of the second half. First the ref gave Germany a penalty after Kai Havertz was felled in the penalty area, but this time VAR helped out and spotted that Sane had fouled Vite to win the ball in the first place.
La Tri stepped on and Enner Valencia tested Neuer with a dipping volley, and seconds after the hydration break Ecuador almost had their crucial goal to take them through to the next phase. After a mix up between Neuer and Jonathan Tah the ball fell to Moises Caicedo and his cross shot was almost turned home by Plata. With 15 minutes to go Kevin Rodriguez was denied by a brilliant block, but from the resulting corner Rodriguez flicked on and Plata met it to lift it into the roof of the net to send the Ecuador fans into ecstasy.
And then it was backs to the wall for the South Americans. Ecuador dropped deeper and Germany advanced. And when seven minutes were called for injury time the tension in the stadium was almost unbearable. Denis Undav, on to try and get a goal, thrashed a shot into the side netting. If Germany levelled, Ecuador were out… but the 11 heroes held out for a phenomenal result.
Key statistics
La Tri gave as good as they got in this game, registering three shots on target to Germany’s three and while they had less possession they battled for every ball and put their bodies on the line when they came under the cosh.
Ecuador’s first goal came with their 40th shot of the campaign so far, and they beat a team which came into the game with a run of 11 consecutive wins.
What’s next?
With six games over the next 24 hours, three more groups will be resolved and there is a real tussle in Group F where the Netherlands and Japan are on four points and Sweden are on three. In Group D, with the United States already through Paraguay and Australia are vying for second place; meanwhile in Group I the two qualified sides, France and Norway come face-to-face with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland both on four goals from two games. That’s a game we’ll be reporting on here at SBOTOP, while in the other Group I clash, Senegal will hope to secure one of the best eight third places by beating Iraq. As the results roll in there are plenty more World Cup 2026 updates to come over the next few days, and then Germany can look forward to the Round of 32. The World Cup 2026 betting odds rate Nagelsmann’s team as sixth favourites, so a quarter-final place at least is the expectation. But tonight belongs to Ecuador who are in the mix too.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
