Germany suffer shock defeat as Gonzalo Plata’s late strike sends Ecuador through to knockout rounds

Ecuador stun Germany with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory to draw the curtain on Group E in New Jersey. Despite Leroy Sané helping Julian Nagelsmann’s side to a lightning-fast start, Nilson Angulo and Gonzalo Plata fought back for Ecuador, who themselves will now be joining Germany in the knockout rounds.

Ecuador 2-1 Germany
Goals: 0-1 Sané 2’ (assist: Wirtz), 1-1 Corner 9′ (assist: Vite), 2-1 Silver 77′ (assist: Rodríguez)

Germany arrived in New Jersey with the pressure off, having already assured themselves of the top spot in Group E, after Julian Nagelsmann’s side won both of their opening fixtures. Ecuador, meanwhile, were desperate – only a victory would keep their World Cup dream alive.

Forced into changes at the back due to injuries to Nico Schlotterbeck and Nathaniel Brown, Nagelsmann turned to Antonio Rüdiger and David Raum to shore up the defence.

Likwise for Ecuador, two changes were made with Nilson Angulo and Joel Ordóñez coming into the side as coach Sebastián Beccacece demanded what seemed to be the impossible from his side.

Sané fires Germany ahead

Germany burst out of the blocks in electrifying fashion. Just two minutes in, a long throw-in was worked cleverly into the Ecuador box. Aleksandar Pavlović brought the ball down and shifted it to Florian Wirtz, who made space and teed up Sané.

The former Bayern Munich winger drilled a low, first-time effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, finding the back of the net with a composed and clinical finish. A VAR check for a potential foul in the build-up was waved off, and Germany had their dream start.

Angulo’s rocket stuns Germany

Ecuador’s response was breathtaking. Just seven minutes later, Nilson Angulo received the ball from Pedro Vite on the edge of the German defensive third and drove forward before unleashing a ferocious right-footed strike from outside the box. The ball flew through the legs of Pavlović and nestled into the far corner, leaving Manuel Neuer with absolutely no chance. It was a stunning equaliser that rocked Germany and sent the Ecuador fans into raptures.

Ecuador grow into the game

The goal transformed the match. Ecuador grew in confidence and began to press Germany with real aggression to try and disrupt the German rhythm. Nagelsmann’s side weren’t without their chances, however. Kai Havertz headed straight at goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez from a Raum cross in the 25th minute before Jamal Musiala’s left-footed effort was blocked ten minutes later.

Ecuador’s physicality was evident – they racked up eight fouls in the first half alone. Piero Hincapié was booked in the 43rd minute for hauling back Sané, and Pavlović followed him into the book a minute later for a foul on Enner Valencia. The half ended 1-1, a fair reflection of a fiercely contested opening 45 minutes.

Back-and-forth second half

The second half began with immediate controversy. The referee initially pointed to the spot minutes after the restart, when Havertz was brought down in the box, but VAR intervened – Sané had committed a foul in the build-up at the halfway line, and the penalty was overturned.

After avoiding that early scare, however, Ecuador continued to threaten on the counter, and a defensive mix-up between Jonathan Tah and Neuer in the 73rd minute almost gifted them the lead. Kevin Rodríguez pulled the ball back to Caicedo, whose shot was met by Gonzalo Plata, but he could not divert it on target.

Plata fires Ecuador ahead

Nevertheless, the South Americans’ moment of glory would arrive not five minutes later. From Pedro Vite’s right-sided corner, Rodríguez flicked the ball on at the near post, and Plata, right in front of goal, got a foot to it to redirect the ball under the crossbar from the tightest of angles, completing the Ecuadorian comeback.

Germany fall short in frantic finale

Germany threw everything forward in the closing stages. Super sub Deniz Undav came the closest to hauling Germany back level after wriggling free on the left and unleashing a powerful effort, but the VfB Stuttgart man could only find the side netting. With Ecuador successfully weathering the late German pressure, the final whistle confirmed a famous 2-1 victory, ending Germany’s 11-game winning streak and sending the South Americans through to the knockout rounds for only the second time in their World Cup history.