Two potential dark horses went down to the wire in their World Cup Group E opener on Sunday.
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Ivory Coast stunned Ecuador with a 90th-minute goal via Amad Diallo to take home all crucial three points from Philadelphia Stadium, which was packed with yellow La Tricolor jerseys.
The first half was mostly dominated by a front-footed Ecuadorian side that hit the crossbar twice, with Enner Valencia also blowing a key chance over the bar following a cross from Piero Hincapie.
Ivory Coast primarily relied on rising young winger Yan Diomande to run down the right flank against Hincapie to create chances, but didn’t find too much joy with the final product.
The second half saw the ball momentum flip toward the Elephants. Ecuador struggled to pick up the ball in the same midfield positions from the first half, which hurt its ability to get on the front foot.
Two early Ivory Coast substitutions were key. Diallo and striker Ange-Yoan Bonny came on in the 56th minute. Diallo switched to right wing with Diomande moving over to the left, with the ball mainly coming to the latter for take-ons.
Bonny became crucial with his hold-up play and ability to turn and drive upfield compared to starting No. 9 Elye Wahi.
Ecuador brought in Angel Preciado and Jackson Porozo to refreshen their right flank and attempt to halt Diomande. Moving Joel Ordonez to right-back slightly helped, but the issue was converting chances in the final third. That’s what’ll stop Ecuador from a true dark-horse run.
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Then on a late counter attack, a bulldozing run from Ivorian right center-back Wilfried Singo down the right flank opened it up for Diallo to come inside. Singo played the cut-back pass that Diallo perfectly slotted home to the left corner in the 90th minute.
Ecuador picked up the momentum in the seven stoppage time minutes, but it was too little too late with corners being the key threat for La Tricolor’s chances.
It was a game that could’ve went either way and a 0-0 draw probably would’ve felt fair, but Ivory Coast’s second-half attacking display topped Ecuador’s first half on the margins. The crossbar played an important role in limiting Ecuador, too.
Group E is topped by Germany after the first round following its 7-1 rout of Curacao. Second place is now the Ivory Coast’s, an important position with two games to go.
Ecuador can try to rally and claim something with eight of 12 third-place teams being able to advance. But it’ll need to aid its star defense by scoring more goals to prevent results such as this.
Germany will take on Ivory Coast next, with Ecuador meeting Curacao. An intriguing conclusion to an underrated group awaits.
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