Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored a 90th-minute goal off the bench to give Ivory Coast a perfect start to the World Cup, beating Ecuador 1-0 in Group E.
The forward was a surprise absence from Emerse Fae’s starting line-up but expressed his frustration in the best way possible after replacing Bazoumana Toure 10 minutes into the second half, slotting a smart winner past Hernan Galindez after Wilfried Singo burst his lungs down the right flank.
It gave Ecuador a painful start to their World Cup campaign and ended their 19-game unbeaten run. It defied pre-match expectations by hitting the crossbar twice in the opening 30 minutes through John Yeboah and Alan Minda and dominating the early exchanges with and without the ball.
They never returned to their early heights and found themselves increasingly at the mercy of Ivory Coast during the brief moments when the 2023 AFCON champions clicked. Yan Diomande was active almost the whole time, but his final product often fell short.
Elye Wahi hit the crossbar for the Fae side in the second half while Amad and Ange-Yoan Bonny gave them new life. But it took until the final minute of normal time for the Manchester United winger to spark wild celebrations from the entire squad, 12 years after their last World Cup win.
Big moments in Philadelphia…
- 11: possibility! Ener Valencia were fired up when they were in a good position before the assistant referee called off the play-back after ruling the ball was out of play.
- 24: Get out of the bar! John Yeboah cut inside and fired a sublime effort against the crossbar when Emmanuel Agbadou put the ball under his feet.
- 30: And again! Pedro Vite delivered a perfect ball to Alan Minda, who struck the post again from eight yards out to put Ecuador ahead.
- 52: …another one! Nicolas Pepe fired a lovely low cross towards Helie Wahi, who went across the near post but went over the crossbar again.
- 56: Subscribe! Amad Diallo comes on for the ineffectual Bazoumana Toure, who is warming up enthusiastically at half-time.
- 68: get! Gonzalo Plata tested Yahia Fofana with a sharp drive from the edge of the box on Ecuador’s only shot of the second half.
- 90: target! After a good pass down the flank from Wilfried Singo, who had moved to right-back moments before, his square ball was calmly slotted home by Amad Diallo to secure the winner in the last minute.
Analysis: Bet your house Ahmad starts against Germany
Sky Sports’ Ron Walker:
Many around Philadelphia, including Amad Diallo himself, were surprised that he wasn’t named in the starting lineup for the Emerse Fae.
He has not featured in any of Ivory Coast’s three friendlies since the Africa Cup of Nations in January, but scored in the warm-up win over France for the World Cup lead. It was therefore all the more head-scratching to see Yan Diomande shift right to accommodate Bazoumana Toure.
Even in his fiery half-time warm-up, it was clear that the decision would soon be overturned and certainly Ivory Coast improved in the final third through his own contribution as his number came on in the 56th minute, as well as that of Diomande when he returned to his preferred left flank.
It would be a shock if he fails to keep his place against Germany on Saturday evening. But Fae’s biggest problem in that game is likely to be at the other end of the field, considering Ecuador, who had scored just 14 goals in 18 qualifying games before Ivory Coast went into the match, took the lead in the opening 30 minutes.
Certainly, the German side, who had beaten Curaçao seven times in their opening match, will not be so generous.
