A World Cup sleeper awoke just in time to keep its dream alive.
After failing to score in its first two World Cup matches, then surrendering a goal two minutes into Thursday’s match against Group E winner Germany, Ecuador pulled off a stunning comeback to upset the European power and advance to the knockout stage for the first time in 20 years, following a 2-1 win at a sold-out MetLife Stadium.
Ecuador arrived in the United States as a trendy dark horse, riding a 19-game unbeaten streak that dated back to Sept. 2024, featuring wins over Argentina and Colombia, as well as draws with Brazil, the Netherlands, the U.S., Mexico and Uruguay.
But in a matchup against the team that led all nations with nine goals and a plus-seven goal differential, Ecuador seemed to be handed a death sentence after allowing an early goal to Leroy Sane.
The defensive-minded squad — which averaged less than one goal per match in 18 qualifying contests — needed two goals after failing to score in a tournament-opening loss to Ivory Coast, then becoming the first team in World Cup history to be held without a goal despite putting at least 15 shots on goal in a scoreless draw against Curacao.
Forced out of their patented shell, Ecuador quickly responded, making the stadium shake when 23-year-old Nilson Angulo delivered an equalizer from outside the box in the ninth minute past multiple defenders and a diving Manuel Neuer, who was making his World Cup record 22nd appearance in net.
The Ecuadorians controlled much of the action afterward but were unable to break through, heading toward a draw and another early World Cup exit.
Then, Gonzalo Plata became a national hero, volleying home the winning goal in the 77th minute.
Ecuador (1-1-1) will not learn its next opponent until group play is completed.
Germany (2-1-0) — which previously earned a blowout win over Curacao and a thrilling comeback against Ivory Coast — will return to the knockout stage for the first time since winning the World Cup in 2014, playing Monday in Boston in the Round of 32.
