A nailbiting Group E game between Ecuador and group winners Germany at the MetLife Stadium was settled 13 minutes from time, when Gonzalo Plata jabbed home the winning goal from close range for the South Americans.
Plata’s winner came after Ecuador had recovered after Germany took the lead from a controversial Leroy Sane goal after two minutes before equalising through Nilson Angulo.
The result means Ecuador finished Group E with four points, guaranteeing them a place in the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
“The significance of this is not for me, it is for the people,” Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece said after the win.
“The players gave a huge happiness to the people. We have to enjoy it and celebrate, please,” the Argentine coach added.
Germany had already been assured of winning the group after wins over Ivory Coast and Curacao.
But coach Julian Nagelsmann was left dismayed at what he described as “tactical suicide” against Ecuador.
“We got off to a great start,” Nagelsmann said. “Unfortunately, right after scoring, we started committing tactical suicide with our positioning. That makes things difficult.
“Ecuador had everything to play for, and you could tell. They had their foot on the gas.”
Ivory Coast meanwhile sealed the runners-up spot in Group E after eliminating Curacao in Philadelphia, Nicolas Pepe scoring twice in a 2-0 victory. It is the first time that the west African nation have reached the knockout stage.
Curacao, the smallest country by population ever to play in the World Cup, depart the tournament with one point to finish bottom of the group.
The Group E games kicked off another packed slate of six games across the tournament on Thursday which will give more clarity to the shape of the knockout rounds. (AFP)
Edited by Cecil Wong
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