Key Points
- Germany beat Côte d'Ivoire 2-1 in Group E on June 20 in Toronto.
- Franck Kessié gave the Ivorians a 30th-minute lead.
- Substitute Deniz Undav equalized (68') and won it in the 94th.
- Germany reach the round of 32; Côte d'Ivoire need a result next.
Côte d'Ivoire did everything but finish the job. The Ivorians led Germany for an hour at Toronto's BMO Field and were seconds from a famous World Cup point — until substitute Deniz Undav buried a 94th-minute winner to hand Germany a 2-1 Group E victory.
Franck Kessié put Côte d'Ivoire ahead in the 30th minute, turning in a dangerous Yan Diomande cross. The lead held until Julian Nagelsmann emptied his bench: Undav came on in a triple substitution, volleyed home a Nadiem Amiri cross in the 68th, then controlled a Felix Nmecha pass and fired the winner four minutes into stoppage time.
A cruel margin
The result sends Germany to the round of 32 with two wins, while Côte d'Ivoire go to their final group game needing a result to survive. Coach Emerse Faé was defiant, noting his side was "nearly beating Germany" — true, and exactly why the ending stings. Late goals are running this tournament: the Ivorians landed on the wrong end of one days after Ghana rode a stoppage-time strike past Panama.
Sources: ESPN, Sky Sports
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