By Dwayne Ferreira.
Angulo and Plata lead Ecuador’s 2-1 comeback win over Germany, securing a World Cup knockout place after a dramatic Group E finale in New Jersey.
Ecuador revived their FIFA World Cup campaign with a remarkable 2-1 comeback victory over Germany, scoring through Nilson Angulo and Gonzalo Plata to qualify for the round of 32.
Sebastián Beccacece’s team entered their final Group E match under intense pressure after losing 1-0 to Ivory Coast and drawing 0-0 with Curaçao. Ecuador had attempted 39 shots without scoring and required victory against the already-qualified group leaders to retain a realistic chance of progressing.
Their task became more difficult after only two minutes. Germany restarted quickly from a throw-in, Florian Wirtz found Leroy Sané inside the area and the winger finished left-footed to score his first goal at a major international tournament. Ecuador protested that Aleksandar Pavlović had used a dangerously raised foot in the build-up, but the goal stood.
The response was immediate and emphatic. In the ninth minute, Angulo collected the ball near the edge of the penalty area and curled a superb effort beyond Manuel Neuer. Ecuador’s 40th shot of the tournament finally produced their first goal and transformed the atmosphere inside the packed New York New Jersey Stadium.
Germany continued to move the ball confidently, but Ecuador competed aggressively in midfield through Moisés Caicedo and Alan Franco. Piero Hincapié and Willian Pacho also dealt with Germany’s movement around the penalty area, preventing the early setback from developing into the one-sided match many had anticipated.
The second half brought a major VAR intervention. Referee Tori Penso initially awarded Germany a penalty after Joel Ordóñez appeared to trip Kai Havertz, but the decision was overturned when the review identified a German foul earlier in the move. Ecuador survived and continued searching for the winner their campaign demanded.
That decisive moment arrived in the 78th minute. Substitute Kevin Rodríguez flicked a corner at the near post and Plata reacted ahead of the defenders, stabbing the ball beyond Neuer. The goal triggered wild celebrations among Ecuador’s supporters and forced Germany into a frantic late pursuit.
Germany applied pressure during the closing minutes, but Ecuador defended with determination and goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez remained composed. The victory ended Germany’s 11-match winning sequence and exposed concerns for Julian Nagelsmann, whose team conceded in every group fixture despite finishing first.
Angulo’s equaliser ended Ecuador’s extraordinary scoring drought, while Plata’s winner completed one of the country’s most significant World Cup victories. Beccacece praised the faith and resilience of a squad that had faced heavy criticism after its opening two performances.
Germany topped Group E with six points, ahead of Ivory Coast on goal difference. Ecuador finished third with four points and qualified among the eight strongest third-placed teams. Germany will face a third-placed qualifier on June 29, while Ecuador must await the completed group-stage rankings before their round-of-32 opponent and venue are confirmed.
MATCH SUMMARY
Ecuador – 2
Nilson Angulo 9’
Gonzalo Plata 78’
Germany – 1
Leroy Sané 2’
Result: Ecuador won 2-1
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group E
Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date: June 25, 2026
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