Ecuador recovered from an early goal down to defeat Germany 2-1 in Group E finale
Victory was enough to secure knockout-phase berth as one of eight best third-placed teams
After the game, Willian Pacho and goalscorers Nilson Angulo and Gonzalo Plata spoke to FIFA
When Kevin Rodriguez rose highest to meet a perfectly struck corner from Pedro Vite, and Gonzalo Plata pipped Manuel Neuer to turn the ball into the back of the net, undoubtedly broke its decibel record. Plata’s goal, which made it 2-1 and turned out to be the winner, secured – and sent more than 40,000 Ecuadorian fans into a state of ecstasy.
Just when it seemed as though nothing was going right for La Tri in this tournament and elimination was looming large, Moises Caicedo and co turned around a match that had seemed all but decided in favour of , who had taken an early lead after just two minutes through Leroy Sane.
“I always believed we could achieve great things and turn things round,” said defender Willian Pacho in an exclusive interview with FIFA about the team’s slow start. “When you stick to your game plan – to what you’ve been working on from the start – it doesn’t matter if you concede. We responded very well. It was essential for us.”
Faced with a mountain to climb, the Ecuadorians saw their first hero emerge in the form of Nilson Angulo. His driving run towards Neuer’s goal and his shot, which went through Aleksandar Pavlovic’s legs, restored parity after just seven minutes of Ecuadorian uncertainty. To say that the Sunderland man’s debut FIFA World Cup™ goal – La Tri’s first of this campaign – changed everything would be something of an understatement.
“I had the chance to score, and I know that the whole of Ecuador is delighted, because they’d been waiting for it, they’d been hoping for it,” the 23-year-old winger told FIFA. “For me, it’s a source of immense pride, given all the work I’ve put in and everything I’ve been through. Being here today with my team-mates and scoring that goal was something very special.”
Nevertheless, even buoyed by that goal, Ecuador were still a long way from reaching the summit of the mountain – or rather, the volcano, given the deafening roars raining down from the stands. While Germany did at times set Ecuadorian hearts fluttering, as the minutes ticked away against the South Americans, there remained in New York New Jersey stadium that vague, inexplicable feeling that something was about to happen. That it was only a matter of time, in fact.
This Ecuadorian team, which had looked so promising during the qualifiers, were quite simply determined not to let their fantastic fans down.
“Seeing the sadness of so many Ecuadorians [after the first two matches] really broke our hearts,” admitted Pacho. “Today, we gave it our all because we knew they’d still be there to cheer us on.”
“I think that’s what gave us that extra bit of belief. We were shattered by the 90th minute, but the fans kept singing and cheering us on,” noted Plata.
The players’ efforts on the pitch and the ceaseless chants from the stands were finally rewarded when the Flamengo star nudged the ball past Neuer with just 13 minutes left on the clock. It was a moment, a goal, that Plata will never forget.
“My joy is indescribable,” he admitted after the final whistle. “It’s hard to put into words how I’m feeling right now. I think that when I see my family a little later, it will help me fully appreciate the happiness I’m feeling. Seeing them here at the stadium after my goal really moved me. I never would have imagined hearing a whole stadium celebrate one of my World Cup goals. It’s incredible.”
After finishing third in , but assured of progression to the next round thanks to the four points they have under their belts, Ecuador will be able to approach the rest of the tournament with a fresh outlook.
“We didn’t get off to the start we’d hoped for in the competition, but we’re still here. Thank you to everyone who supported us and never stopped believing in us,” said Pacho.
“We will continue to work with great humility and keep our feet on the ground. We will remain focused on what we do best,” Angulo promised.
The team’s flight to Quito, slated for the night of 25 June, is no longer needed, and the Ecuadorians will now continue onwards on their adventure. Clinching victory over Germany will have left them feeling like they were on top of the world. Work will, however, have to resume very soon – even more so once they find out who they will face in the Round of 32.
“We know that we haven’t won anything or achieved anything yet. We now hope that the next few matches – or at least the next one – will go just as well,” concluded Plata.
Whatever lies in store for Ecuador, on Thursday evening, Manhattan was still a steady stream of buoyant fans in yellow jerseys. On the streets of the city that never sleeps, one chant rang out over and over again, belted out by thousands of delirious Ecuadorian fans: the famous “¡Sí, se puede!” ("Yes, we can!").
Sources: FIFA Official
