Ecuador turned the final moments of their World Cup group campaign into a night of celebration, producing a remarkable comeback to defeat Germany 2-1 and secure a place in the knockout rounds.

With elimination looming and Germany looking set to extend their perfect group record, Gonzalo Plata became the hero with a decisive 77th-minute finish that stunned the four-time champions and sent Ecuador through.

Germany struck first, needing less than two minutes to find the net. Leroy Sané capitalized on early pressure, scoring his 18th international goal after Florian Wirtz delivered the final pass into the penalty area.

But Ecuador responded quickly, refusing to allow the early setback to define their tournament.

Nine minutes into the match, Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador’s first goal of the competition, punishing a German mistake in midfield. Pedro Vite won possession and immediately fed Angulo, who surged forward before calmly beating goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at the far post.

The momentum had shifted.

A risky moment, a perfect finish

Plata’s winning goal carried an extra layer of drama. The Ecuadorian attacker had already endured a painful moment earlier in the match, taking a kick to the head when Germany opened the scoring.

Yet he remained central to Ecuador’s greatest escape.

A corner from Pedro Vite was redirected by Kevin Rodríguez, creating confusion inside Germany’s penalty area. Neuer, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who returned from international retirement for the World Cup, moved toward the loose ball expecting to collect it.

Instead, Plata reacted first.

With his left foot extended, he managed to touch the ball beyond Neuer and into the net, completing Ecuador’s comeback.

The goal sparked wild celebrations, with Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece rushing toward the stands to share the moment with supporters.

The result moved Ecuador into the next round with four points, marking only the second time in their history that they have advanced beyond the group stage. Their previous appearance came in 2006, when they reached the round of 16.

Germany’s historic run falls just short

Germany entered the match already assured of finishing top of Group E after victories in their opening two games, but their 11-match winning streak came to an end.

The streak stopped one victory short of matching the national record set between 1979 and 1980.

The Germans now turn their attention to the knockout phase, where they are scheduled to play Monday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Their opponent is expected to come from the group featuring Paraguay, Australia, or Sweden.

Despite the defeat, Germany’s early dominance was evident. Their opening goal arrived after Aleksandar Pavlović controlled Nathaniel Brown’s throw-in sequence and helped create space for Wirtz, who supplied Sané inside the box.

However, Ecuador grew stronger as the match progressed and eventually punished every opening.

Controversy as Ecuador survive penalty scare

The second half began with more drama when Germany appeared to have earned a chance to regain the lead.

American referee Tori Penso initially awarded Germany a penalty less than 30 seconds after halftime after Joel Ordóñez brought down Kai Havertz.

However, a video review overturned the decision after determining that Sané had committed a foul on Vite earlier in the sequence.

The reversal preserved Ecuador’s opportunity, and they took full advantage.

Ivory Coast make history as Curaçao’s fairytale ends

In the group’s other decisive match, Ivory Coast secured a historic milestone by defeating Curaçao 2-0 and advancing to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in the nation’s history.

Nicolas Pépé provided the difference, scoring once in each half as the West African side finally broke through after four previous World Cup appearances without escaping the group phase.

The result confirmed that the Elephants had transformed their tournament campaign into something memorable.

Ivory Coast began the competition with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ecuador at the same Philadelphia venue where the two teams met earlier. They later suffered defeat against Germany but recovered when it mattered most.

They will now face either France or Norway on June 30, depending on the final standings in Group I.

Curaçao’s historic chase ends in disappointment

Curaçao entered the match with a chance to create football history by becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout rounds.

But the Caribbean side needed a victory and could not find the breakthrough against a determined Ivory Coast defense.

Their elimination closed the door on a remarkable opportunity, while Ivory Coast celebrated a landmark achievement.

A night of World Cup surprises

The final day of Group E delivered everything the tournament promises: late drama, unexpected heroes, and history rewritten.

Ecuador overturned Germany’s advantage through resilience and Plata’s decisive touch.

Ivory Coast turned years of frustration into a breakthrough moment.

And as the knockout stage approaches, both nations move forward carrying the belief that their biggest moments may still be ahead.