NEW YORK:
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ecuador staged a stunning comeback with a 2-1 win over arch-rivals Germany to reach the knockout stage, while the result dealt a blow to Scotland’s hopes of reaching the next round.
The match played in New Jersey started in Germany’s favor and only in the second minute, Leroy Sane scored a goal with a good pass from Florian Wertz and put his team ahead.
After the opening goal, Ecuador protested strongly when the referee was not fouled despite a high boot on Pedro Vete, but the protest against the decision boosted the morale of the team.
Seven minutes later, Nelson Angulo scored with a powerful shot and Ecuador continued to press in the second half.
In the 77th minute of the match, Gonzalo Plata scored the decisive goal in the corner before the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, after which the Ecuadorian fans were delighted.
With this victory, Ecuador not only qualified for the elimination stage, but now it opened the way for a possible match against England in the next round.
