By Daniel Akinte
Against a German side that had already secured top spot in the group, Ecuador knew only a victory would keep their knockout hopes alive.
Germany looked set to spoil those ambitions almost immediately. Just two minutes into the contest, Leroy Sané latched onto a clever pass from Florian Wirtz before calmly firing past Hernán Galíndez to hand the Europeans an early lead.
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Rather than letting the controversial moment derail them, Ecuador responded with determination.
Their equaliser arrived in the ninth minute when Sunderland winger Nilson Angulo finished confidently beyond Manuel Neuer after being picked out by Vite. The goal lifted both the players and the sea of Ecuadorian supporters inside New York New Jersey Stadium.
Their persistence was finally rewarded in the 77th minute when Gonzalo Plata reacted quickest from a corner to poke home the winning goal, sparking wild celebrations among the Ecuadorian fans.
Angulo was deservedly named Player of the Match after an energetic display that constantly troubled Germany’s defence.
Alongside standout performances from Moisés Caicedo and Piero Hincapié, Ecuador defended bravely in the closing stages to secure a famous victory.
The result not only sends Ecuador into the knockout rounds but also dents Scotland’s hopes of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams.
For Ecuador, the victory is a timely reminder of the quality within their squad.
After struggling for goals in their opening two games, they finally found their attacking rhythm when it mattered most and if they can carry this confidence into the knockout phase, La Tri could prove to be one of the tournament’s dangerous dark horses.
