Thursday at the World Cup was one of those days where you just couldn’t look away. Six teams punched their tickets to the knockout round, and one of them did it in style no one saw coming.
Ecuador — yes, Ecuador — walked into New Jersey and beat Germany 2-1. This is the same Ecuador that couldn’t score against Curaçao last week. The same team that started the tournament with a 0-0 draw against a tiny island nation. And they beat Germany. On American soil. In front of a stunned crowd.
The Germans took an early lead when Leroy Sane finished cleanly into the bottom corner, but it shouldn’t have counted. Aleksandar Pavlovic got away with a high boot in the buildup. Ecuador didn’t care. They equalized fast. Nilson Angulo took a pass from Pedro Vite — who stole the ball off Felix Nmecha — and rifled it between Pavlovic’s legs into the net. First goal of the tournament for Ecuador. Perfect timing.
Second half brought more drama. Germany thought they had a penalty when Kai Havertz went down in the box, but VAR overturned it after spotting a foul earlier in the play. Then, with 13 minutes left, Ecuador struck again. Gonzalo Plata was somehow completely unmarked on a corner in the six-yard box, got a toe on the ball under Manuel Neuer’s nose, and poked it home from point-blank range. The stadium lost it.
Ecuador held on for their biggest win in years, advancing to the knockout stage for the first time since 2006 — which, ironically, was the year Germany hosted. Manager Sebastian Beccacece climbed into the stands to celebrate with fans and family. The scenes were pure chaos in the best way.
Ivory Coast Finally Breaks Through
You’d think a nation that produced Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure would have made it out of a World Cup group by now. But no. The Ivory Coast had never gotten past the group stage until Thursday. They did it with a routine 2-0 win over Curaçao in Philadelphia.
Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe scored both goals. First, Yan Diomande stole the ball off a defender and set up Pepe for an easy finish in the 7th minute. After halftime, Ibrahim Sangare threaded a perfect through ball and Pepe buried it with his left foot. Simple, clinical, and long overdue. Ivory Coast finishes second in Group E and will face either France or Norway in the round of 32.
Japan and Sweden Both Get What They Want
Japan missed their chance to win Group F, but a 1-1 draw with Sweden in Arlington was enough to lock up second place. Sweden is through as one of the best third-place teams, which is a big deal after the Netherlands hammered them on matchday two.
Japan’s goal was a thing of beauty. They worked the ball around the final third before Ritsu Doan slipped Daizen Maeda through with a perfect pass. The Celtic forward finished it calmly. That was Japan’s seventh goal of the group stage, their most ever in a World Cup. Sweden answered quickly when Anthony Elanga cut in from the right and curled a wicked left-footed shot past goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Elanga apparently had no idea the result meant Sweden advanced. Someone should tell him.
Netherlands Cruises, Tunisia Goes Home Empty
Tunisia’s miserable tournament ended with a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands in Kansas City. Three games, zero points, minus-10 goal difference. Might be the worst team here. An own goal from Ellyes Skhiri two minutes in set the tone. Brian Brobbey scored his third of the tournament to make it 2-0. Tunisia pulled one back through Hazem Mastouri, but Jan Paul van Hecke restored the two-goal lead quickly. The Dutch roll through as group winners.
Australia and Paraguay Play the Most Predictable Game
In Santa Clara, Australia and Paraguay played out a 0-0 draw that was exactly what you’d expect when neither side had much incentive to attack. After the US beat Australia, the Socceroos couldn’t finish first, so they just needed a point for second place. Paraguay could have jumped to second with a win but chose not to risk it. They sit on four points and should advance as one of the best third-place teams. Thrilling stuff.
Turkey Spoils US Party in LA
The US had already clinched top spot in their group, so maybe they were coasting. Turkey, already eliminated, played like they had nothing to lose. The result was a 3-2 win for Turkey in Los Angeles in a five-goal thriller. Auston Trusty put the US ahead early, but Arda Guler equalized in the 10th minute. Baris Alper Yilmaz poked Turkey ahead before halftime. Sebastian Berhalter tied it for the US after the break. Then, in the 98th minute, Kaan Ayhan slid in at the back post to steal the win. Turkey goes home with a win in their pocket. The US gets a reminder that nothing in this tournament is guaranteed.
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