A little flick of Gonzalo Plata’s big toe helped Ecuador make a great escape, as they poked the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute and lifted Ecuador to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Germany on Thursday and into the knockout round of the World Cup for the first time since 2006.
Plata, a 25-year-old winger who scored his ninth international goal, said, “Life is different now. We suffered a lot. We suffered too much in the first two matches. We would have liked to secure qualification much earlier, but now we’re going forward more hungry, knowing we have to give it our all.”
Ecuador finished third in Group E with four points and advanced past the group stage for the second time, headed to a possible matchup with Mexico on Tuesday in Mexico City.
Germany, a four-time champion already assured of advancement by winning its first two games, will play its round of 32 game Monday at Foxborough, Massachusetts, most likely against Paraguay, Australia or Sweden.
“On Monday it’s important that we start well,” Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said through a translator.
Germany's winning streak was stopped at 11 games, one shy of the team record set in 1979-80.
“The difference was today that the opponent wanted to win more than us, and you could really feel it, especially in the second half,” Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich said.
