- Deniz Undav scored twice as Germany beat Ivory Coast.
- Germany confirms its qualification for the round of 16 after the victory in Group E.
- Ivory Coast opens the scoring thanks to a goal from Franck Kessie.
Deniz Undav scored twice off the bench as Germany staged a thrilling comeback to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their World Cup Group E match on Saturday, securing their place in the knockout stage for the first time since winning the title in 2014.
After having two goals disallowed in the first half, Germany did not lose concentration and used complex passing to find its way, while the West Africans demonstrated their dynamic brand of attacking football in a wild Group E clash.
Undav tied the score with a controlled volley in the 68th minute and scored again when he received a pass on the turn, before turning and firing home a ball that Yahia Fofana had no chance to stop.
The versatile forward has now scored nine goals in his last eight games.
Simon Adingra had one last chance for Ivory Coast but failed to get a shot into the box before Germany returned to the field and Fofana blocked Nathaniel Brown’s low shot.
Ivory Coast had opened the scoring in the first half when Franck Kessie scored a rebound from Amad Diallo’s shot in a play created when Yan Diomande charged down the left side and sent in a cross.
With more than 100,000 people of German descent living in Toronto, Julian Nagelsmann’s men enjoyed plenty of support, but at half-time they were a frustrated bunch with nothing to show for their eight attempts on goal.
Germany appeared to have opened the scoring when midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rose to receive a penalty corner in the 25th minute, but was adjudged to have fouled Fofana in the process.
The ruling left Pavlovic with his hands over his head in disbelief, while Fofana received some attention after the collision and the partisan German public made their disdain for the referee’s decision known.
Shortly after, it was Ivory Coast who finally broke through with Kessie’s goal. The West Africans have scored in their last seven matches in the tournament, the longest such sequence on the world stage in their history.
Germany put the ball in the back of the net again, but their celebrations were cut short when the referee ruled that Jamal Musiala had fouled Odilon Kossounou in the build-up.
Germany leads Group E with six points and is in the round of 32, while Ivory Coast remains on three after two games. Ecuador and Curacao will meet in Kansas City later on Saturday.
Germany will close the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday in New Jersey, while Ivory Coast will face Curacao in Philadelphia.
