Plata’s latest strike sent La Tri into the round of 32 of the World Cup with a deserved win
Gonzalo Plata’s late goal sent Ecuador into the knockout stages with a 2-1 win over Germany in New Jersey.
Plata reacted quickly to produce the ball in the 77th minute to complete a stunning victory for La Tri, who outplayed the Group E winners for most of the game.
Leroy Sane had put Germany ahead just two minutes into the game before Nilson Angulo leveled the game in the ninth minute, as the South Americans made a spectacle of themselves after scoring their first goal of the tournament.
After many chances, Plata finally came up with the decisive moment to win Ecuador to four points, ensuring that they will advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams in this world cup.
An exciting start as Sane and Angulo scored early on
Germany needed just two minutes to break the deadlock, although Sane’s goal was not without controversy.
Florian Wirtz put the ball into the striker’s path for a brutal finish, but Ecuador felt the move should have been stopped after Aleksander Pavlovic appeared to catch Pedro Vite with a big boot in the build-up.
Despite passionate protests from the South Americans, neither the referee nor VAR intervened, allowing Germany’s goal to stand and put them on top of Group E.
Ecuador responded well though and scored a goal seven minutes later through Angulo who scored the winner for Sunderland. The 22-year-old held off Manuel Neuer with a superb effort from distance to breathe life into La Tri’s hopes of progressing in the competition.
The goal seemed to reinvigorate La Tri, keeping Neuer busy with a number of good exchanges and dangerous corners, with a penalty appeal from Piero Hincapie scoring the goals Sane waved away.
A good cross from David Raum at the other end gave Kai Havertz the opportunity to direct it into the goal but his effort was saved by Hernan Galindez.
Overall though, it was clear which team had already won the group and which still needed to win, Ecuador questioning the four-time winners with a dangerous attack.
Ecuador overtakes the Germans in the chase for the knockouts
It took very little time for the second half to have its first flashpoint, with the referee awarding a penalty just 40 seconds after the restart following Joel Ordonez’s hard challenge on Kai Havertz, but this time VAR stepped in to overturn the decision after Germany’s poor ball early in the game.
As in the first half, Germany started fast and failed to keep up with their usual level, Die Meinschaft did not have the urgency they had shown in their first two games.
The hour marks for Denis Undav to enter the fray, however, following his three goals from the bench so far, hopefully the Stuttgart man can repeat his heroics once again.
But it was Ecuador who tested Neuer again, Enner Valencia biting the reins from distance following another fine work by John Yeboah, who had been a nuisance all game on the right.
Many chances went anywhere, with Sane sitting his opponent down before he shot straight at the keeper, but still Ecuador pushed for the goal they needed.
Plata is the hero of Ecuador
When the goal came, it was bedlam in New Jersey as Plata slotted past Neuer and Kevin Rodriguez rounded the corner to slot the ball into the back of the net and send the South Americans to the knockouts.
As it stands, Ecuador would probably go into the knockout round as one of the third placed teams with a four point lead and their players and coaching staff didn’t know it, as all members enjoyed some celebrations in the corner after the goal.
As always seems to be the case, Ecuador seemed to be pulling back and inviting pressure as Germany pushed for an equaliser, but the heroic defender continued to thwart their opponents as we entered seven minutes of added time.
Even Undav couldn’t come out on top for Germany this time as another chance saw him pushed too far and his shot was put aside.
But a free-kick in the far corner proved the job done for Ecuador, as they saw the game set for exciting scenes at the final whistle as they struggled to reach the round of 32.
