Deniz Undav’s 94th-minute aim clinched a come-from-behind 2-1 victory for Germany in opposition to Ivory Coast in Group E to ship them into the World Cup knockout levels.
Substitute Undav clinically dispatched the winner from Felix Nmecha’s go having earlier cancelled out Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessie’s opener by volleying in a Nadiem Amiri cross.
Germany seemed to be heading for a shock defeat earlier than the previous Brighton striker’s Sixtieth-minute introduction however his objectives, which put him on 9 in 11 video games for his nation, imply they be a part of USA and Mexico in reaching the knockouts with a sport to spare.
Ivory Coast, winners in opposition to Ecuador of their opener, have been the higher facet within the first half, impressed by Liverpool goal Yan Diomande, who helped arrange Kessie’s aim with a burst of tempo and low cross, however the defeat means they nonetheless have work to do to qualify.
The important thing moments from Toronto…
- 10: SAVE! Yahia Fofana makes a very good save to cease Kai Havertz’s header
- 22: GOAL RULED OUT! Aleksandar Pavlovic forces a nook over the road however is penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper
- 30: GOAL! Diomande’s depraved low cross permits Kessie to attain
- 39: GOAL RULED OUT! Germany denied once more after Havertz’s aim is chalked off for a foul by Jamal Musiala
- 60: Germany introduce Undav as a part of a triple change
- 68: GOAL! Undav volleys in Amiri’s wonderful centre to degree it up
- 90+4: GOAL! Undav dispatches the winner to spark wild Germany celebrations
In footage: Undav’s match-winning second
Evaluation: Undav an ace up Germany’s sleeve?
Deniz Undav didn’t make a lot of a mark within the Premier League, scoring a modest complete of 5 objectives in 22 appearances for Brighton through the 2022/23 season. However his match-winning double in opposition to Ivory Coast follows a aim and two assists in opposition to Curacao.
His affect ought to come as no shock.
The 29-year-old got here into the match on the again of a formidable marketing campaign for Stuttgart which featured 25 objectives in 46 video games in all competitions and his worldwide scoring document is much more spectacular, particularly as he normally options from the bench.
He’s a late bloomer. He solely made his senior worldwide debut two years in the past on the age of 27. However in a squad which options extra illustrious names, he’s exhibiting himself to be Germany’s actual difference-maker with an early push for the Golden Boot.
Neville: That is what Germany do
Gary Neville instructed ITV: “In the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half, Ivory Coast should have killed the game off.
“However it’s simply what Germany do. They’ve ruined my life on a number of events.
“You’ve got to hand it to Germany there. They were struggling in parts of that match.
“They caught at it, persistence, resilience and so they received there ultimately. It is so Germany.”
