- Deniz Undav scores twice as Germany beat Ivory Coast.
- Germany confirms their qualification for the round of 16 after their victory in Group E.
- Ivory Coast opened the scoring thanks to Franck Kessie’s strike.
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 seeing two goals disallowed in the first half, Germany did not lose focus and used intricate passing to find their way, while the West Africans produced their dynamic attacking football in a wild Group E clash.
Undav leveled the score with a controlled volley in the 68th minute and struck again when he received a pass on the turn, before turning and heading home a ball that Yahia Fofana had no chance of stopping.
The versatile striker now has nine goals in his last eight matches.
Simon Adingra had a late chance for Ivory Coast, but he failed to get a shot into the box before Germany came back upfield and Fofana blocked a low shot from Nathaniel Brown.
Ivory Coast opened the scoring in the first half when Franck Kessie scored on a rebound from Amad Diallo’s shot on a play created when Yan Diomande charged down the left side and sent in a cross.
With more than 100,000 people of German ancestry living in Toronto, Julian Nagelsmann’s men enjoyed great support but were a frustrated group at the break with nothing to show for their eight attempts on goal.
Germany appeared to have opened the scoring when midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rose to respond to a short corner in the 25th minute, but was deemed to have fouled Fofana in the process.
The decision left Pavlovic with his hands on his head in disbelief, while Fofana received some attention after the collision and the partisan German crowd made their disdain for the referee’s decision known.
Shortly after, it was Côte d’Ivoire who finally broke through thanks to Kessie’s goal. The West Africans have scored in their last seven matches of the tournament – the longest such streak on the world stage in their history.
Germany once again put the ball in the back of the net, but their celebrations were cut short when the referee determined that Jamal Musiala had fouled Odilon Kossounou in the build-up.
Germany lead Group E with six points and are through to the round of 16 while Ivory Coast remain with three points after two matches. Ecuador and Curacao meet in Kansas City later Saturday.
Germany closes the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday in New Jersey while Ivory Coast faces Curacao in Philadelphia.
