FIFA World Cup 2026: Diallo strikes late as Ivory Coast stun Ecuador at World Cup

Manchester Uniteds Amad Diallo struck in the 90th minute as Ivory Coast stunned Ecuador and their huge support to edge a tight affair 10 in their World Cup opener on SundayThe Group E encounter had looked set to finish 00 hardly a surprise given Ecuadors incredible defensive record during qualifying and that result may well have suited both teamsBut the 23yearold Diallo who had been introduced in place of Bazoumana Toure shortly before the hour mark had other ideas as he finished firsttime from a rightwing cross right just as the game was heading for injury timeIt is Ivory Coasts first win at a World Cup in exactly 12 years since they beat Japan in Brazil in 2014 and they can now be confident of making the knockout phase at the tournament for the first timeIt was a disappointing way to start for Ecuador who had the majority of the 68274 crowd at the packed Philadelphia stadium kitted out in yellow and backing themThey hit the bar twice in the first half through John Yeboah and Alan Minda while Elye Wahi struck the same crossbar for the Ivorians after halftimeIvory Coast African champions in 2024 will now hope to build on this when they play Germany in their next game in Group E in Toronto on SaturdayThe Ecuadorians will look to bounce back when they head to Kansas City the same day to play Curacao the debutant minnows who were hammered 71 by Germany earlier in HoustonEcuador coached by Argentinian Sebastian Beccacece had a remarkable record in South American qualifying as they finished second behind ArgentinaWith a defence marshalled by Paris SaintGermains Willian Pacho and Chelseas Moises Caicedo patrolling the midfield they conceded a miserly five goals in 18 qualifying games but scored only 14 Remarkably eight of their 18 matches ended in 00 draws and six featured a single goalJayZ in attendanceIvory Coast were nevertheless confident of causing their opponents problems with exciting young RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande a danger on the flanks and recent Frenchborn recruit Wahi leading the lineA match watched by US rap mogul JayZ was cagey at times but came to life midway through the first half as the frame of the goal was rattled for the first timeYeboah the former German youth international who plays in Italys Serie B for Venezia pounced on uncertain defending at the edge of the box and crashed a shot off Yahia Fofanas barThe Ivory Coast goal was living a charmed life as Ecuador struck the woodwork again on the halfhour mark Pedro Vite slipping in Minda to be denied this timeEmerse Faes Ivorians looked dangerous intermittently notably when Nicolas Pepe was denied by a lastditch challenge after Diomande had raced away from Piero HincapieThe Elephants had never reached the World Cup knockout phase in their three previous appearances but surely knew a win here would practically secure their passage to the next roundWahi who finished the club season at Nice in France turned a Diomande cross from the right onto the bar shortly after the restartSeko Fofana forced a save from Hernan Galindez in the Ecuador goal but the match seemed to be petering out to a goalless conclusion until the late dramaWilfried Singo went on a rampaging run from defence down the Ivorian right before delivering a low centre for Diallo to score with a sidefoot finish and silence the Ecuador supportThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever