Undav double – Deniz Undav scored twice—one in the 69th minute and another in the 94th—to give Germany a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in Toronto and send the four-time champions into the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since their 2014 title.
By the time Deniz Undav struck in stoppage time, Germany’s ticket to the knockout round wasn’t a hope anymore—it was secured.
In Toronto. the four-time champions beat Ivory Coast 2-1 on Thursday. June 25. using a late double to overturn a first-half lead set by Franck Kessié. For Ivory Coast. the victory they wanted never arrived. and the defeat means they must wait until the final day of group play to learn whether they will advance from Group E.
Germany had been sent into panic by an energetic start from Les Elephants. At the half-hour mark, Yan Diomande—19 years old—cut in from the left wing and delivered a low cross. Amad Diallo’s shot was blocked. but Kessié stayed composed and finished past Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to put Ivory Coast ahead.
Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana then held firm as Germany searched for an equalizer, turning away shots while the European side pushed harder. But the change in momentum came after Germany’s manager Julian Nagelsmann made a triple substitution at the hour mark.
Nadiem Amiri crossed into the box for Undav, who needed only to stick out a foot to score in the 69th minute. Germany was level, and the comeback took on urgency.
Undav wasn’t done. In the 94th minute, a Felix Nmecha pass through the middle found him in the box. The Stuttgart forward turned and fired again, beating Fofana once more and driving Germany into the Round of 32. Germany’s next match is against Ecuador in New York/New Jersey. with the prospect of playing to win the group.
Ivory Coast’s tournament continues, but with uncertainty. They close out Group E with a match against Curacao in Philadelphia. Both Germany’s game versus Ecuador and Ivory Coast’s game versus Curacao kick off at the same time on Thursday, June 25.
Kessié’s opener made the stakes immediate, but the match’s tone shifted repeatedly. Early in the contest, Germany had chances and moments of pressure without finding a breakthrough. Kai Havertz sent an early shot over the bar. and there were flashes of urgency when Germany worked the ball into the box.
Ivory Coast’s control was also tested. Fofana made saves as Germany pushed for an equalizer, and there were tense sequences near the end of the first half and early in the second, including moments where referee decisions and physical collisions drew attention.
As the game tightened, Germany’s midfield and substitutes kept arriving in waves. Germany’s triple sub at the hour mark included Undav and Amiri, and those moves paid off quickly. After Germany equalized. the final 25 minutes became a sprint between two teams with different needs: Germany needed a goal to move on. while Ivory Coast needed to survive long enough to believe in a historic knockout berth.
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé was watching the math as much as the match. The plan was clear—if they could hold on, Ivory Coast would clinch a place in the knockout round for the first time ever.
But the final picture refused to cooperate. The second goal arrived through the combination of fresh legs and quick execution: a cross from Amiri set up the 69th-minute equalizer, and a through ball from Nmecha set up Undav’s 94th-minute winner.
Germany’s path into the knockout stage doesn’t stop at this one match. Germany reached the Round of 32 along with Mexico and the U.S., after improving their position in Group E. They came into this game after beating Curacao 7-1, and they now have a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast to back it up.
One image summed up the day’s difference: Germany’s late surge. built from substitutions. found the finishing edge it lacked early on. For Ivory Coast. the contrast was brutal—an opening goal by Kessié. a sustained push for a second. and then the late swing that turned a knockout dream into a waiting game.
World Cup Germany Ivory Coast Deniz Undav Franck Kessié Yahia Fofana Manuel Neuer Julian Nagelsmann Group E Round of 32 Ecuador Curacao
So Germany needed a late goal to survive, wow.
Deniz Undav scored twice like right at the end? That’s crazy. Also why was Neuer even in there if they were losing 1-0 anyway.
Wait, I thought this was the World Cup but it’s in Toronto? Like is this some weird qualifier thing lol. And “Group E” sounds made up, I dunno. Germany back to knockout for first time since 2014 though, so I guess good for them.
Undav really said nope twice in stoppage time. But I’m confused how Ivory Coast scored first with Kessie then just fell apart, like did the goalie forget how to block shots or what. Now they gotta wait until the final day… that’s stressful as heck.