Ecuador shock Germany with late winner to reach World Cup knockout stage

Ecuador produced one of the biggest surprises of the World Cup so far, defeating Germany 2-1 on Thursday to secure a place in the knockout stage for the first time since 2006.

A late goal from Gonzalo Plata completed the comeback and sent Ecuador through from Group E, while Germany suffered its first defeat of the tournament after already securing qualification.

Germany take early lead

Germany made a flying start when Leroy Sane scored in the second minute. After a move involving Aleksandar Pavlovic and Florian Wirtz, Sane found space inside the penalty area and beat goalkeeper Hernan Galíndez.

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However, Ecuador responded quickly. Nilson Angulo equalised in the ninth minute after Pedro Vite won possession in midfield. Angulo drove forward and fired past Manuel Neuer to score Ecuador’s first goal of the tournament.

Germany thought they had earned a penalty early in the second half after Kai Havertz went down inside the box, but a video review overturned the decision after Sane was found to have committed a foul in the build-up.

Plata delivers the winning moment

The decisive goal arrived in the 77th minute. Kevin Rodríguez flicked on Vite’s corner at the near post and Gonzalo Plata stretched out his foot to poke the ball past Neuer from close range.

“Life is different now. We suffered a lot," said Plata, a 25-year-old winger who scored his ninth international goal, per a report by Hindustan Times. “We suffered too much in the first two matches. We would have liked to secure qualification much earlier, but now we’re going forward more hungry, knowing we have to give it our all.”

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said his team now had to shift focus quickly.

“On Monday it’s important that we start well," he was quoted as saying by HT.

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Joshua Kimmich admitted Ecuador had shown greater determination. "The difference was today that the opponent wanted to win more than us, and you could really feel it, especially in the second half,” he told HT.

With more than 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium, many dressed in Ecuador’s yellow colours, the South American side celebrated a memorable victory and a return to the knockout stage.

FAQs:

Who scored the winning goal for Ecuador against Germany?

Gonzalo Plata scored the winner in the 77th minute.

Has Ecuador reached the World Cup knockout stage before?

Yes, Ecuador previously reached the knockout rounds in 2006.