Substitute Amad Diallo snatched a decisive goal in the 90th minute to lead Ivory Coast to a precious 1-0 victory over Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium in the first round of Group 5 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The same round also saw Germany crush Curaçao 7-1, sending the Germans to the top of the group on 3 points, ahead of second-placed Ivory Coast on goal difference, while Ecuador sit third with no points, ahead of bottom-placed Curaçao on goal difference.
Despite the defeat, Ecuador were the better side for much of the first half, dominating play and threatening the Ivorian goal on several occasions, only to be frustrated by bad luck and a lack of finishing touch.
Ecuador started the brighter of the two sides, with Moisés Caicedo going close in the 3rd minute, before the first genuine chance was wasted when John Yeboah's shot struck the crossbar in the 23rd minute.
Alan Minda then spurned another opportunity just a minute later, before the same player sent a powerful effort crashing against the crossbar in the 30th minute following a precise through-ball from Pedro Vite.
Ivory Coast, by contrast, relied on individual efforts and long-range shots, with their best chance falling to Elie Wahi in the 18th minute, while Nicolas Pépé and Seko Fofana also went close without success.
The first half was marked by fierce physical battles in midfield, resulting in 3 yellow cards for Ivory Coast — shown to Seko Fofana, Franck Kessié and Joëlla Dowy — along with numerous fouls that repeatedly disrupted the flow of play.
Despite the excitement and multiple chances, particularly from Ecuador who twice struck the crossbar and squandered several clear-cut opportunities, the scores remained level at half-time.
In the second half, both sides continued to waste chances. Ecuador came closest to breaking the deadlock when their captain Enner Valencia's shot struck the left post in the 46th minute after a precise pass from Gonzalo Plata.
Ivory Coast hit back strongly, with Yan Dioumassy wasting a dangerous chance in the 50th minute before Elie Wahi's header hit the crossbar in the 52nd minute, returning the favour to Ecuador and denying the Elephants a certain goal.
The two sides continued to trade chances thereafter, with Pedro Vite spurning a fresh opportunity for Ecuador in the 55th minute, while Seko Fofana and Dioumassy kept threatening the Ecuadorian goal without success, amid a clear improvement in the Ivorian side's performance.
Both managers made several substitutions in search of a winning goal, and just as the match appeared to be heading for a draw, substitute Amad Diallo snatched the decisive winner in the 90th minute, latching on to a pass from Wilfried Zingó and driving the ball with his left foot from inside the penalty area into the bottom-left corner, handing the Elephants 3 precious points and punishing Ecuador for squandering a long string of easy chances throughout the match.