EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Gonzalo Plata poked the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute, and Ecuador advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup by rallying for a 2-1 win over Germany on Thursday.
Germany, who clinched first place in Group E with victories in their first two games, went ahead on Leroy Sané‘s second-minute goal. Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador’s first goal of the tournament in the ninth minute.
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Plata scored after a corner kick was nodded on by Kevin Rodríguez. Neuer, the 40-year-old Germany goalkeeper who came out of international retirement for the World Cup, was about the grasp the ball when Plata raised his left foot and with a toe put the ball into the net.
It gave Ecuador their first win over a UEFA opponent in any competition since 2013.
Ecuador finished third in the group with four points, behind Germany and the Ivory Coast, and are guaranteed to advance as one of the best eight third-placed teams. It’s only the second time they have made it to the World Cup knockout stage and the first since 2006.
