World Cup 2026: Ivory Coast ends undefeated Ecuador in the cruelest way

Ivory Coast won this Sunday 1-0 against Ecuador in the World Cup premiere of both teams in Philadelphia (United States), thanks to a cruel goal from Amad Diallo in the 90th minute that put an end to almost two years of undefeated status for the South American team.

The result on this first day complicates the path of Ecuador in a Group E that shares with Germany and Curacao. And this duel in Philadelphia was called to outline the team that will challenge the Germans for leadership in the area and This is how it was experienced on SofaScore.

Ecuadorians and Ivorians played a goalless first half, but in which they had numerous opportunities to avoid a 0-0 lead in an open and at times broken match, which was dangerous in both areas due to passages.

Sebastian Beccacece surprised with a more offensive approach than usual in Ecuadorwith the entry of Alan Minda at the cost of going out with a defense of three centre-backs, a tactical change with which the man from Rosario sought to combat his problems with the goal.

Enner Valencia had the first opportunity to Ecuador in the 11th minute and was close to becoming La Tri’s first scorer in three World Cups, but his shot went slightly over the crossbar defended by Yahia Fofana.

The Ecuadorians crashed twice on that same crossbar, once with John Yeboah in the 23rd minute and another with Alan Minda in the 30th, the two clearest chances of the first half.

For his part, Ivory Coast had a tough game, which cost him yellow cards Seko Fofana, Franck Kessié, Géla Doué before the break.

The Ivorians also had chances, almost all of them coming from the boots of Yan Diomande. The Leipzig striker did what he wanted on the right wing, defended by an overwhelmed Piero Hincapié.

On the same spar he encountered Ecuador in the first half he also crashed Ivory Coast upon returning from the locker room. In another ride of Diomande for the band, Elye Wahi He finished the center against the wood.

That attempt opened a phase of Ivorian dominance, which imposed its physicality and speed after the break, although it failed to pierce the populated Ecuadorian area.

When the intensity began to decline, Beccacece and Emerse Faé They moved the bench, aware of the importance of the three points in the group. Far from settling for a draw, they went for the victory.

One of those changes resulted in Fae. It was the entrance of Amad DialloManchester United winger, who surprised when he started the game on the bench.

In another ride on the right side, in this case of Wilfried Singofrom Galatasaray, attended Diallo inside the area, who only had to place the ball close to the goal post Hernán Galindez.

It was the 90th minute. The Ivorians tore down the Ecuadorian wall and froze Lincoln Financial Field, packed to the brim with South American fans, who in the hours before the game had entrusted themselves to the spirit of Rocky Balboa in their city, Philadelphia.

A goal that broke an unbeaten record of 19 games that had started in September 2024 and that resurrected the ghosts of Qatar 2022when they were eliminated by Senegal.

1. Ivory Coast: Yahia Fofana; Ghislain Konan, Emmanuel Agbadou, Wilfried Singo, Guéla Doué (Odilon Kossounou, d.89); Bazoumana Touré (Amad Diallo, m.56), Franck Kessié, Seko Fofana (Ibrahim Sangaré, m.77), Yan Diamande; Elye Wahi (Ange-Yoan Bonny, m.56) and Nicolas Pépé (Christ Inao Oulaï, m.77).

Selector: Emerse Faé.

0. Ecuador: Hernán Galindez; Joel Ordóñez, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapié; Pedro Vite, Moisés Caicedo, Alan Franco (Jackson Porozo, m.63), Alan Minda (Nilson Angulo, m.56); John Yeboah (Ángelo Preciado, m.63), Gonzalo Plata and Enner Valencia (Kevin Rodríguez, m.77).

Selector: Sebastian Beccacece.

Goals: 1-0: m.90: Amad Diallo.

Referee: François Letexier (France). He admonished the Ecuadorian Jackson Porozo and the Ivorians Seko Fofana, Franck Kessié, Géla Doué.

Incidents: Match on the first day of group E of the 2026 World Cup played at the Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia in front of some 68,274 spectators.