At BMO Field in Toronto, in Matchday 2 of Group E, Germany edged a courageous Ivory Coast side 2-1 in a thrilling contest that was only settled deep into stoppage time. The Elephants had led and defended with remarkable resolve, only to be undone by the impact of a substitute who changed the entire complexion of the game.
It was Franck Kessié who gave the Ivorians the lead at the 30-minute mark, tapping home from close range after Yan Diomandé's incisive run and cross created chaos in the German box. But Deniz Undav, introduced at the hour mark, proved to be the difference-maker: the Stuttgart striker levelled with a close-range finish from Amiri's pinpoint cross in the 68th minute, before curling home a decisive second in the 90+4th minute following a perfectly weighted pass from Nmecha.
The victory takes Germany to 6 points from two games, confirming their place in the round of 16 as group leaders. For Ivory Coast, the result is a painful one — they matched Germany for large stretches and showed genuine quality through Diomandé and Sangaré in midfield. Now sitting under pressure in Group E, the Elephants will need a positive result in their final group game to keep their World Cup 2026 hopes alive.
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