Ecuador battle to famous win over Germany to snatch spot in World Cup knockout stages

[p]La Tri’s hopes of progression were hanging by a thread as they faced the four-time world champions, who were already planning for the knockout stages.[/p][p]It was always going to be an uphill struggle against Julian Nagelsmann’s side, and the latter took the advantage with only two minutes on the clock in controversial circumstances.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pavlovic-aleksandar/noANPQx4/"]Aleksandar Pavlovic[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wirtz-florian/0Q5gjImi/"]Florian Wirtz[/a] combined in the box, before the latter teed up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sane-leroy/GlTyfr8U/"]Leroy Sane[/a] for a clinical first-time finish into the bottom corner. However, Sebastián Beccacece’s side were rightly aggrieved as Pavlovic caught [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vite-pedro/tAgQRmS5/"]Pedro Vite[/a] with a high foot in the build-up.[/b][/p][p][b]Given [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/8tbm8Tri/"]Ecuador[/a]’s struggles at the finals so far, few would have expected much in the way of a response, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/angulo-nilson/GtWYwr5H/"]Nilson Angulo[/a] clearly hadn’t read the script, pouncing on some indecision in the German defence before unleashing a wonderful effort past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neuer-manuel/Sh5KwIo6/"]Manuel Neuer[/a]. [/b][/p][p]It was a goal which ensured Ecuador avoided the embarrassment of becoming only the second South American nation to go through an entire WC without scoring, while Angulo also became the fourth [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Sunderland[/a] player to score at these finals, a number only bettered by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a]’s total of six players.[/p][image alt="Sane's opener for Germany" id="3b5c4c32-74b2-4e7e-92af-8d80af5a4178" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (photo by REUTERS/Mike Segar)" guid="8f79dcaf-d047-4bdf-9f17-bd1178c06bd8" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]It took less than a minute into the second half for the game’s next moment of controversy, as referee Mary Victoria Penso awarded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a] a penalty following [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ordonez-joel/SUpVHdbj/"]Joel Ordonez[/a]’s clumsy challenge on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/havertz-kai/rH8BZWiI/"]Kai Havertz[/a]. The decision, though, was ultimately overturned after a VAR intervention, with Sane instead penalised for a foul on Vite in the build-up.[/p][p]Ecuador were the ones who needed to force the issue, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/enner-valencia/KELXYJ3s/"]Enner Valencia[/a] called Neuer into a rare moment of action with a long-range strike that was parried away by the goalkeeper.[/p][p]That marked the end of what was Valencia’s record-breaking eighth La Tri appearance at a WC, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodriguez-kevin/zidM8dFE/"]Kevin Rodriguez[/a] introduced moments later. [/p][p][b]Beccacece’s men looked more threatening from that point and pressed forward for a potentially decisive second goal that eventually came in the 77th minute. Rodriguez played a part in the pandemonium that ensued, flicking on Vite’s corner for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/plata-gonzalo/hUCYdK7J/"]Gonzalo Plata[/a] to hook a finish past Neuer.  [/b][/p][p]Ultimately, Ecuador held on for a famous three points that extend their WC journey after an inauspicious start. They finish third in Group E, but crucially moved to the top of the rankings of best third-placed sides.[/p][p]Meanwhile, this defeat prevented Germany from securing what would have been a record-equalling 12th successive victory, but they still progress as group winners.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vite-pedro/tAgQRmS5/"]Pedro Vite[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/8tbm8Tri/"]Ecuador[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ecuador-8tbm8Tri/germany-ptQide1O/?mid=zmvgtcCa"]Click here for more on the match.[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Match stats" id="afc376f2-b778-4ff8-b626-7acaf6604190" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="340b3692-a77a-4a6b-ae06-657f36db8f9a" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /]