Germany managed to top Group E in the FIFA World Cup 2026 despite their shocking defeat to Ecuador at the New York New Jersey Stadium in the USA on Friday.
Strikes from Angulo and Plata flipped the script on after Leroy Sane opened the scoring for Germany early in the game, only to be overturned.
Ecuador managed to stay alive in the tournament and secure passage to the knockouts as a result of their triumph over the four-time champions.
Sane put Mannschaft ahead in as early as the second minute of the game as he guided the ball into the back of the net. Pavlovic’s raised boot in the build up to the goal split opinions but the ref saw fit to award Germany the goal and the European heavyweights got their noses in front.
However, the lead last all
of seven minutes as Angulo found a way past German custodian Manuel Neuer from outside the box with a stunning hit as moved in from the left to draw La Tri back on level terms.
The sides went into the break all level and everything to play for as in the crucial encounter.
Plata send the Ecuadorian fans into delirium as he prodded the ball into the back of the net after beating Neuer to the touch from a delightful corner into the near post in the 77th minute. La Tri held on to their lead to complete the biggest shock of the tournament thus far and keep their run at the quadrennial showpiece well and truly alive.
Ivory Coast managed to finish second in the league and give themselves a shot of qualifying for the knockouts as one of the eight best third places sides with a 2-0 win over Curacao, who finished at the bottom of the group in their debut campaign.
