IVORY COAST: Fofana – Doue🟨 (from 89. Kossounou), Singo, Agbadou, Konan – Fofana🟨, Kessie🟨 – Pepe, Toure (from (from 56. Diallo⚽), Diomande – Wahi (from 56. Bonny). Menu: Emerse Faé.
ECUADOR: Galindez – Ordonez, Pacho, Hincapie – Franco (from 62. Porozo🟨), Caicedo, Vite, Minda (from 56. Angulo) – Yeboah, (from 62. Preciado) Valencia, (from 77. Rodriguez) Plata. Menu: Sebastian Beccacece
PHILADELPHIA – Lincoln Financial Field. Referee: François Letexier (France)
We watched perhaps the most even match in the first round of Group E between the Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Two solid teams from the background who are mentioned as those who could threaten the giants played a fairly even match in which the Africans were a goal better.
Both teams entered the match with a desire to prove themselves, and Ecuador fared better, hitting the crossbar twice through Yeboah and Minda and making a real siege of the opponent’s goal, which the Ivory Coast only managed to get rid of at the end of the second half.
She came back very briefly in the second half, and then Emerse Fae’s team woke up and started to create chances. The best of them was the one in the 52nd minute, when after a cross from Diomande, Wahi ran onto the ball and hit the crossbar for the third time of the night.
When it seemed that the match would end without goals and a winner, one awkward ball arrived in the penalty area where Diallo did the best, scoring the only goal of the match in the 90th minute and securing victory for his team.
Ivory Coast is now level on points with Germany, against whom it plays in the next round, while Ecuador will play against Curacao.
🕖
Seven minutes of stoppage time will be played.
90′ GOOL! ⚽
Ivory Coast took the lead at the very end of the match. Diallo, who entered from the bench, at this very moment we are still waiting
89‘ ⇔
Kossounou came on for Doue
85′ Everything is the same before the last five minutes.
80′ Entered the last 10 minutes, everything is still equal.
77′ New change for Ecuador. Rodriguez came on for Valencia.
73′ 🟨
Porozo was the first to turn yellow near Ecuador.
69′ A hydration break is in progress.
68′ He ignited Plata’s half volley from about 20 meters away from the goal. Fofana managed to react in time and prevent that shot.
65′ Ivory Coast looks much better in the second half. They stabilized the back line and created several awkward situations.
62′ ⇔
New changes for Ecuador. Preciado and Porozo entered instead of Yeboah and Franco.
58′ Diomande is more and more in a good mood, who now passed the two and entered the penalty area from where he sent a powerful shot, but also insufficiently accurate.
56′ ⇔
The Ecuadorians make the first change in this match, Angulo came in instead of Minda.
With the Ivory Coast, Bonny and Diallo entered instead of Wahi and Toure.
52′ ⚠
Ivory Coast’s best opportunity so far! Diomande sent a sharp ball into the box, Wahi ran onto it and hit the crossbar in the first half following the Ecuadorian attackers.
50′ The dashing Diomande got his first chance to shoot from 16 meters tonight, but it was not accurate.
46′ The Ecuadorians continued on the trail of the first part. After a quick action, Valencia got a chance to shoot from the cross, but it shook only the outer part of the net.
46′ The second half has started.
End of the game in the first part. Both teams had their moments that made this match tense, but Ecuador came closest to scoring, which hit the goal frame twice. Ivory Coast have a potential problem as they already have three yellow cards, while Ecuador has none.
45+2′
Attractive and interesting attempt by stopper Sing with scissors. It went over the goal.
🕖
Four minutes of injury time will be played.
40′ 🟨
Here is the third yellow. Doue stepped on Valencia and increased the problems in the defense of the African team.
39′ 🟨
The second yellow card for the Ivory Coast was given to Kessie. Both central midfielders are now cautioned and must be on high alert.
35′ The Africans responded with a quick counterattack, but Pepe’s shot was blocked at a crucial moment.
32′ Plata fell in the penalty area, but referee Letexier did not speak.
30′ ⚠
Greda saved the Ivory Coast again! Minda received a perfect ball into the area, and his shot from the crossbar hit the goal post. Ecuador is increasingly dangerous.
28′ 🟨
The game continued, and soon after, Fofan earned the first yellow card of the match.
24′ A hydration break is in progress.
23′ ⚠
The best opportunity yet! Yeboah again got into position to shoot, this time being stopped by the crossbar.
22′ Tensions are slowly growing with each new duel and violation.
18′ He now received Waha five meters from the goal, but his shot was weak and imprecise, thus making it an easy task for goalkeeper Galindez.
17′ The players of the Ivory Coast finally came out of the pressure and came in front of the goal, and Touré’s awkward ground cross turned into a shot that flew past the goal post.
14′ That previous action put the wind behind the Ecuadorians, Yeboah tried now with his left – he shot powerfully from the edge of the penalty area and over the goal.
11′ ⚠
First chance in the match. Valencia got rid of the keeper in the penalty area and had a great opportunity to shoot, but he was inaccurate and shot over the goal.
In the end, the goal would not even count because the ball went out of bounds earlier.
10′ The tied game continues. Defenses are currently at enviable levels.
5′ Both teams are coming out high, and the impression is that both want to impose themselves early. It is played with high intensity and charge.
2′ The second minute of the match brought the first blow. Caicedo tried a 20-meter ground shot, but it went wide.
The announcement is written by: Frane Maršić
This match is considered crucial in the fight for second place, given that Germany is a heavy favorite to win Group E. An uncertain test is expected in Philadelphia, with many world media predicting a draw. Africans see their advantages in the combination of youth and experience.
A lot is expected from Franck Kessie, and even more from the young talent Yan Diomande, who impressed last season in the Leipzig jersey. Also, we must not forget the great Amad Diallo, who will attack the strongest side in the ranks of Ecuador. The last row is that strength through Estupiniano, Pacha and Hincapie, while Caicedo will hold the entire midfield, and the old fox Enner Valencia will attack.
