Historic victory and ticket to sixteenths of the 2026 World Cup. Ecuador came back this Thursday against Germany (2-1) in a memorable match in which they knew how to suffer to win a victory that tied Gonzalo Plata in the final stretch.
Leroy Sane put the German team ahead in the 2nd minute, but Nilson Anguloseven minutes later, and Silverafter a corner in the 77th minute, certified three vital points for La Tri.
The goals came at the right time after a blank in the defeat against Ivory Coast (1-0) and the tie with Curacao (0-0), in Group E. The combined Sebastian Beccacece has thus avoided being one of the great disappointments of the group stage.
La Tri advances as one of the best third parties, with four points. Germany, which had already secured the lead before starting to play, showed up at MetLife Stadium without desire or intensity.
Both teams touched up few pieces compared to the second day.
Beccacece He launched an attack and dared to use an offensive trident formed by Nilson Angulo, Gonzalo Plata and Enner Valenciawhich was also joined by John Yeboah as a surprise factor.
Nagelsmann tweaked the defense forced by the long-term injury of Nico Schlotterbeck. Anthony Rüdiger, Real Madrid’s center back, was his replacement. The other change was the entry of David Raum for Nathaniel Brown, also with physical problems, at left back.
The beginning was an exchange of blows. The Mannschaft gave the first in a controversial play. Pavlović He controlled a throw-in with his chest and raised his foot at the height of Pedro Vite’s head, who quickly fell to the ground.
The play continued, the Bayern Munich midfielder saw Wirtz and he Healedwho shot low to make it 0-1.
Leroy Sane with the German team, during the Group Stage of the 2026 World Cup – Photo: AFP
Vite She stayed on the grass waiting for the divine intervention of the VAR, although the American’s decision was worth it Tori I think amid the angry protests of Ecuadorians.
Beccacece’s plan was falling apart. However, it was her own Germany the one in charge of reactivating it.
La Tri’s goal came from nowhere. In a series of rejections, Angle He took possession, headed towards the area and unleashed a right hand, not very tight, but dry.
Pavlović he failed to cover the shot from the end of the SunderlandEdit and Neuer It didn’t stretch enough. Ecuador’s first goal in this 2026 World Cup almost 200 minutes later.
The tie spurred those of Beccacece. They began to believe that they could defeat the four-time world champion for the first time in history. Yeboah advanced to the right. Rüdiger it wasn’t Schlotterbeck. Silver and Enner They tried to surprise the counterattack.
Meanwhile, the German team watched the minutes pass. Zero desire and, furthermore, Pacho, Emphasis and Ordóñez They were gigantic. Only Havertz tried with a header before the break.
Ecuador’s coach, Sebastian Beccacece celebrates with Pervis Estupiñán in Ecuador’s victory against Germany, during the Group Stage of the 2026 World Cup – Photo: EFE
The second half started with scare. Those of Nagelsmann They almost found themselves with a penalty committed on Havertz. Although this time the VAR did intervene and warned Penso of a foul at the beginning of the play Healed about Vite.
From there, the game began to get tangled up with fouls and interruptions. Healed and Angle They were the only ones willing to liven up the afternoon. Valencia tried to volley from a distance and ran into Neuer.
The German goalkeeper was about to give his rival a joy in an indecision with Tah that almost ended in a goal. Moisés Caicedo faulty shot and Silverwith everything in his favor, did not hit the target again. The aim again…
All that pent-up frustration was dissipated by Plata himself, who put his foot just enough to finish a closed corner at the near post. MetLife collapsed, Ecuador He celebrated it as a title with an ecstatic fan base; They are in sixteenths when few believed.
