Philadelphia, Jun 15 (V7N) - A dramatic 90th-minute strike from substitute Amad Diallo propelled Ivory Coast to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their FIFA World Cup Group E fixture at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Monday morning.
The high-octane encounter, which kicked off at 5:00 AM Bangladesh time, saw the African powerhouses secure their first World Cup match victory in 12 years while simultaneously snapping Ecuador's remarkable 19-match unbeaten streak.
The Manchester United winger started the game on the bench after being left out of the starting lineup. However, his introduction in the 55th minute for Bazoumana Touré completely shifted the momentum of the contest. Deep into the final minute of regulation time, Monaco right-back Wilfried Singo made a brilliant, marauding run down the right flank before delivering a precise long ball. Diallo timed his run perfectly, beating Ecuador goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez with a clinical finish to spark wild celebrations on the Ivorian bench.
The result felt harsh on Ecuador, who thoroughly dominated the opening exchanges. The South American side kept the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions under immense pressure, controlling both possession and tempo. Within the first half-hour, Ecuador came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock twice, as both John Yeboah and Alan Minda saw their powerful efforts crash against the crossbar.
As the match progressed, however, the Latin American team began to lose their grip, allowing Ivory Coast to claw their way back into the game. Young forward Oumar Diakité spearheaded several dangerous counter-attacks but initially lacked the final touch to convert.
The second half continued to provide end-to-end drama. Ivory Coast had their own share of misfortune when a strike from Elye Wahi rattled the woodwork. Sensing an opportunity, the Ivorian coaching staff introduced Amad Diallo and Ange-Yoan Bonny, an attacking double-substitution that injected fresh energy and pace into the final third.
The tactical gamble paid off in spectacular fashion in the dying moments, turning Diallo into the ultimate match-hero. With this crucial victory, Ivory Coast joins Germany at the top of Group E with three points, ahead of their highly anticipated clash against the Germans next Saturday. Meanwhile, a devastated Ecuador side will look to revive their campaign against Japan.
END/SMA/AJ
