Ecuador stun Germany, advance to WC knockouts
Key takeaways
- Germany, who clinched first place in Group E with victories in their first two games, went ahead on Leroy Sané's second-minute goal.
- - VAR review: Germany goal came after boot to the head.
- Plata, who took a kick to the head when Germany scored its early goal, keyed Ecuador's great escape after Pedro Vite's corner kick was nodded on by Kevin Rodríguez.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Germany, who clinched first place in Group E with victories in their first two games, went ahead on Leroy Sané's second-minute goal. Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador's first goal of the tournament in the ninth minute.
- VAR review: Germany goal came after boot to the head. So why was it allowed? - How teams can qualify for knockout rounds
Plata, who took a kick to the head when Germany scored its early goal, keyed Ecuador's great escape after Pedro Vite's corner kick was nodded on by Kevin Rodríguez. Neuer, the 40-year-old Germany goalkeeper who came out of international retirement for the World Cup, was about to grasp the ball when Plata raised his left foot and with a toe put the ball into the net.