Ecuador stunned already-qualified Germany with a 2-1 comeback win in New Jersey to reach the World Cup knockout stages and dent Scotland’s round of 32 hopes.
Gonzalo Plata’s 77th-minute winner sent Ecuador through as one of the best third-placed teams, with the South American side a potential round of 32 opponent for England should the Three Lions top Group L.
But for Scotland, Ecuador’s dramatic victory means Steve Clarke’s side drop to the final eighth third-place spot with other teams still to finish their group stage.
Sunderland’s Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador’s leveller in their win over Germany
The Tartan Army needed a favour from Germany, and it started well as Leroy Sane struck an opener inside the opening two minutes.
But Sunderland’s Nilson Angulo hit a fine leveller just seven minutes later before Plata prodded home late in the second half to spark wild Ecuadorian scenes in New Jersey.
How Ecuador overcame VAR controversy to win
The stunning win represented an amazing turnaround for Sebastian Beccacece’s side, who failed to win their opening two games without scoring.
Ecuador felt Sane’s first-time finish after just 109 seconds should have been disallowed by VAR for a for a high foot by Aleksander Pavlovic on Pedro Vite.
But La Tri responded quickly through Angulo’s arrowed ninth-minute shot, which was their first goal of the tournament with their 40th attempt.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo celebrates Ecuador’s knockout-stage qualification
VAR came to Ecuador’s rescue immediately in the second half as Germany’s penalty for Joel Ordonez’s foul on Kai Havertz was overturned by referee Tori Penso after a pitchside monitor VAR call, which showed Vite had been fouled in the build-up by Sane.
Ecuador then pushed for a winner in the closing stages and were rewarded when Plata stabbed in ahead of Manuel Neuer, who failed to claim the ball from a front-post flick-on at a corner.
Ecuador then defended superbly to reach the knockout stages for just the second time in their history.
Germany, meanwhile, will need to recover from their first defeat of the tournament, with the four-time winners taking on the third-place finisher from either Group A/B/C/D/F in the round of 32 on Monday at 9.30pm UK time in Boston.
What the result means…
Ecuador boss: This is for the people
Ecuador boss Sebastian Beccacece in quotes on the official FIFA website:
“It is not about what it means to me; this is for the people. The players have given them this qualification. Let them celebrate and enjoy it.”
Match-winner Gonzalo Plata added: “It is a learning experience for us, and now we will go into the next round even more hungry for glory.
“This team believes strongly in itself. We have 26 players who will give their all for Ecuador.”
Nagelsmann: There was too much freestyle
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann told German broadcaster ARD:
“We have to learn that after a good start and an early lead, we can play with more composure instead of suddenly switching positions too much. There was too much freestyle.
“We just need to be more patient and stay a bit more structured in our positions, and if on top of that we are giving the ball away too often, at some point it becomes difficult.”
