Ecuador Edges Out Germany 2-1: Scotland Faces Heartbreak as Late Goal Puts Them on the Brink of Elimination

ECUADOR incredibly kept their World Cup alive despite a literal early kick in the teeth against Germany.

And that spells yet more bad news for Scotland.

Gonzalo Plata sent Ecuador fans wild in New Jersey Credit: Reuters Scotland’s World Cup fate relies on results elsewhere Credit: Getty

The South Americans needed to win at the MetLife.

But they were undone by a hugely controversial call inside two minutes as Pedro Vite took studs to the face before Leroy Sane scored.

However, Nilson Angulo equalised on nine minutes before Gonzalo Plata’s toe-poke completed a truly dramatic turnaround.

For all the talk of France’s attack, there has not been much noise about Germany’s quality quartet of Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz.

Again, there was no place for Deniz Undav despite five goal involvements in an hour.

Top spot in Group E was already secured before facing Ecuador who failed to score against Ivory Coast or Curacao.

And their hopes of progressing, and Vite, took a mighty blow within 110 seconds.

Aleksandar Pavlovic accidentally but clearly caught Vite’s head with his high boot.

Vite went down clutching his face.

Everyone assumed Tori Penso would blow her whistle but inexplicably play continued and Sane slotted home.

The German players were overjoyed for the much-criticised Galatasaray winger.

But deep down, surely they, along with the rest of the 80,000 in the stadium, knew VAR would rule it out for the blatant foul as apoplectic Ecuador players surrounded the referee.

Not so. VAR Joe Dickerson was happy. Goal stood. Somehow. Baffling.

Now needing two goals, Ecuador battled valiantly and equalised soon after.

Sunderland winger Angulo drove towards the area before firing beyond veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Game on and hope for La Tri, who looked dangerous.

Ecuador’s frustration grew against Penso, bizarrely wearing identical colours to Germany’s away kit, as every 50-50 call seemed to go against them.

Boss Sebastian Beccacece marched on and lambasted her at half-time.

His mood worsened 28 seconds into the second half.

Sane tripped Vite on halfway, again play continued and Pacho slipped through Havertz for a penalty but Penso brought it back for an Ecuador free-kick after the VAR replay.

Enner Valencia, 36, tested Neuer, 40, with a sweet snapshot volley, his last touch, just after Undav replaced Havertz on the hour.

Plata could not capitalise on Neuer and Jonathan Tah’s mix-up then Ecuador had another big chance blocked either side of Sane fluffing his lines.

A goal was coming and sub Kevin Rodriguez flicked on from the resulting corner for Plata to turn in from close range.

Pandemonium for those in yellow as they moved on to four points – and another crushing blow for Scotland’s thinning chances of going through as one of the best third-placed teams.