Amad Diallo's 90th-minute winner gives Ivory Coast victory over Ecuador

Amad Diallo's 90th-minute winner gives Ivory Coast victory over Ecuador

The drama was saved for the final moments. Both teams created multiple chances, troubled each other's defences, and hit the crossbar several times, but it was Manchester United winger Amad Diallo who decided the match. His goal in the 90th minute gave the African powerhouse Ivory Coast a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, making their return to the World Cup stage after 12 years memorable. The African 'Elephants' left the field with all three points.

Throughout the match, the strong defending from both sides meant the forwards struggled to make an impact. Over the entire 90 minutes, both teams managed only five on-target shots combined, with Ecuador registering just one. Although the attacking intensity was low, the goalpost played a significant role in determining the match's fate.

In the 30th minute, Ecuador had a golden opportunity to score the first goal. However, Alan Minda's bullet shot bounced off the top crossbar of the Ivory Coast goal, leaving them disappointed. The teams went into the break goalless.

Ivory Coast increased their attacking tempo after the break. But fate again stood in their way. In the 52nd minute, a great shot from Ivory Coast's Eli Wahi was denied after hitting the Ecuadorian goalpost.

As the clock struck 90 minutes, the scoreboard still read 0-0. When everyone assumed the two teams would share points, Amad Diallo breached the Ecuadorian defence and found the net, sending the Ivorian bench into ecstasy.

After this win, Group E of the World Cup has become very interesting. Following a big win in their first match, European powerhouse Germany top the table. Ivory Coast are in second place with the same number of wins but trailing on goal difference. Ecuador are third after their first-match loss, while tournament debutants Curacao are at the bottom of the table.