Ecuador overturned early German dominance to win 2‑1 in New Jersey, clinching a spot among the tournament’s best third‑place teams. Leroy Sane opened the scoring inside two minutes, but Nilson Angulo equalised seven minutes later. Gonzalo Plata’s 77th‑minute strike past Manuel Neuer sealed the comeback and sent the South Americans to the round of 32. The victory also kept Ecuador’s hopes alive for a historic quarterfinal run.

Germany’s first defeat exposed frailties that have plagued their opening two matches, both winless and goalless. A VAR reversal nullified a late penalty after Joel Ordonez’s challenge on Kai Havertz, reinforcing Ecuador’s resilience. The loss pushed Scotland into the final eighth third‑place slot, leaving their fate dependent on the remaining group fixtures. Meanwhile, Scotland’s campaign now hinges on goal‑difference against the remaining group opponents.

Ecuador’s defensive stand in the final minutes denied a desperate German push, securing the nation’s second ever progression to the World Cup knockout phase. As one of the top third‑place qualifiers, they now await a Group L winner, potentially England, in Boston on Monday. Germany must regroup quickly for their next round‑of‑32 clash against another third‑place side. Their performance highlighted coach Sebastián Beccacece’s adjustments in the tournament.