Deniz Undav came off the bench to score for Germany for the second straight World Cup game, netting a brace as Die Mannschaft came from behind to beat a spirited Ivory Coast team in Toronto.
Franck Kessie had given the Elephants a first-half lead, while teenager Yan Diomande gave Germany plenty to think about as the African team pressed their lead.
But Julian Nagelsmann’s team, which had two goals disallowed before half-time, finally came back with a brace from Undav – including a 94th-minute winner – to secure Germany’s progress to the last 16 for the first time since winning the trophy in 2014.
Ivory Coast, who beat Ecuador 1-0 in their first match, will have great confidence in their performance and believe they can qualify for the next round for the first time.
Elephants surprise Die Mannschaft
Germany started the match brightly and went close in the first 10 minutes when Kai Havertz met a precise cross from Joshua Kimmich, but Yahia Fofana in the Ivory Coast goal equalized the header.
Felix Nmecha’s deflected shot fell inches from the crossbar and from the resulting corner, Aleksandar Pavlovic’s header was disallowed for a foul on Fofana.
But just when Germany looked more likely to break the deadlock, Ivory Coast opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark.
Diomande, the 19-year-old who is being watched by Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, showed his talent by beating Kimmich to the byline before launching a dangerous ball across the box.
In the melee that followed, Amad’s shot was initially blocked by Nathanial Brown, but Kessie was on hand to direct the second attempt and give the youngest team in this World Cup a surprising lead.
Germany then had another goal disallowed when Havertz rolled the ball into the net before the referee stopped play for a clear build-up foul.
An entertaining second half
With Côte d’Ivoire leading at half-time, they went for second place after the restart, with talented youngster Chris Inao sending a shot just over when perhaps he should have done better.
The Ivorians were having an inspired match, restricting Germany to half chances and long range shots.
That was until the introduction of Undav from the bench. For the second game in a row, the striker found the net, finishing from close range in the 68th minute after a delivery from fellow substitute Nadiem Amiri to level the score.
With the game opening late, Ivory Coast squandered a glorious opportunity when Simon Adingra hesitated too long with the open goal, taking a touch when he should have done so first time.
At the other end, Fofana deflected Brown’s shot, before the Ivorian goalkeeper had to intervene again to prevent Undav from scoring.
But Undav was not denied a second, cleverly dodging Nmecha’s pass before scoring to complete the comeback in added time.
