- Deniz Undav scores twice as Germany beat Ivory Coast.
- Germany confirm knockout qualification after Group E win.
- Ivory Coast open scoring through Franck Kessie strike.
Deniz Undav scored twice from 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 stages for the first time since winning the title in 2014.
Having been denied two goals in the first half, Germany did not lose focus and used intricate passing to find their way as the West Africans produced their dynamic brand of attacking football in a wild Group E clash.
Undav equalized with a controlled, volleyed finish in the 68th minute and struck again when he received a pass on the turn before turning and firing home a ball that Yahia Fofana had no chance of stopping.
The versatile forward now has nine goals in his last eight games.
Simon Adingra had a late chance for Ivory Coast but failed to get a shot off in the area before Germany stormed into the box and Fofana blocked a low shot from Nathaniel Brown.
Ivory Coast had opened the scoring in the first half when Franck Kessie scored a rebound from an Amad Diallo shot on a play created when Yan Diomande stormed down the left and sent in a cross.
With more than 100,000 people of German ancestry living in Toronto, Julian Nagelsmann’s men enjoyed plenty of support but were a frustrated group at the interval with nothing to show for their eight attempts on goal.
Germany looked to have opened the scoring when midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rose to meet a short corner in the 25th minute but was deemed to have fouled Fofana in the process.
The ruling left Pavlovic with his hands atop 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.
Soon after, it was the Ivory Coast who finally broke through with Kessie’s goal. The West Africans have scored in their last seven matches at the tournament – the longest streak on the global 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 adjudged Jamal Musiala to have stalked Odilon Kossounou in the build-up.
Germany top Group E with six points and are through to the last 32, while Ivory Coast remain on three after two matches. Ecuador and Curacao meet in Kansas City later on Saturday.
Germany closes the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday in New Jersey, while Ivory Coast faces Curacao in Philadelphia.
