Ecuador 2-1 Germany: Plata Strike Stuns Germany, Ends 11-Match Run

A sea of yellow inside MetLife Stadium witnessed the biggest upset of Group E on 25 June: Ecuador came from behind to beat Germany 2-1, snapping the Germans’ 11-match winning run and surging into the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 when nothing but victory would do.

First half: shocked early, level fast

The drama arrived almost immediately. In the 2nd minute, Leroy Sane prodded Germany ahead, silencing the South American support. Ecuador’s reply was every bit as swift. On nine minutes, Pablo Vite slid the ball through to Nilson Angulo, who fired low through the legs of Aleksandar Pavlovic and beyond Manuel Neuer to level the contest.

Second half: VAR twist, corner decider

The contest swung on a key second-half call. Germany were awarded a penalty, only for referee Tori Penso to overturn it after a VAR review, ruling that Sane had fouled Vite in the build-up. The reprieve proved pivotal.

Ecuador seized their moment in the 77th minute. From a corner, substitute Kevin Rodriguez flicked the ball on and Gonzalo Plata stabbed home ahead of his marker to complete the turnaround. Ecuador then repelled wave after wave of German pressure to see out a famous win.

Key performers and what it means

Plata’s instinctive finish settled it, while Angulo’s early leveller steadied the ship. For Ecuador, the result carried enormous weight: beaten by Ivory Coast and held by Curacao in their opening two games, only victory would spare them an embarrassing exit. They delivered, qualifying in style.

Crucially, despite the defeat, Germany still topped Group E on the back of two opening wins. Their winning streak ended at 11 games.

Follow more coverage at our match reports, track results on live scores, and check the schedule on our fixtures page.

Disclaimer: This report is compiled from public coverage; scores and statistics are subject to official confirmation.