World Cup 2026: Undav Off Bench as Germany Edge Ivory Coast

Last-Gasp Undav Sends Die Mannschaft Through
 

Undav’s late strike completed Germany’s comeback from Kessie’s opener. Die Mannschaft advance after group exits in 2018 + 2022, while Ivory Coast must wait for the final group game.

Undav double seals 2-1 win as Germany reach World Cup knockouts...

Deniz Undav came off the bench to score twice and give Germany a dramatic 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in Toronto. The result sends Germany into the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time since they won it all in 2014.

Germany nearly scored in the opening seconds as Kai Havertz volleyed wide from inside the box. The Arsenal forward then saw a header pushed away by a sharp save from Yahia Fofana.

Felix Nmecha then struck a shot that deflected onto the top of the net as Germany’s four-time World Cup winners kept pressing. The ball did cross the line after Fofana spilled a corner, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the keeper by Aleksandar Pavlovic.

Germany had opened the scoring in 9 of their last 10 matches, yet this time Ivory Coast struck first against the run of play.

RB Leipzig’s in-demand winger Yan Diomande beat his man and pulled the ball back for Amad Diallo. Diallo couldn’t get his shot away cleanly and Nathaniel Brown blocked it. The rebound fell to Franck Kessie, who showed his class to finish calmly.

Ange-Yoan Bonny then fired from outside the box to force a save from Manuel Neuer as Ivory Coast grew in confidence.

Germany had another goal ruled out before halftime when Jamal Musiala was penalized for fouling Odilon Kossounou right before Havertz tapped in. Die Mannschaft went into the break a goal down.

After the restart, it was actually Ivory Coast who looked likelier to add to the lead. Christ Inao Oulai blasted Amad’s cutback over the bar, then Diomande dragged a volley wide from the edge of the area.

Germany passed up a perfect chance to equalize past the hour mark. It fell to Havertz again, but he headed wide from a corner after Fofana missed the cross.

Two subs then combined to pull Germany level. Nadiem Amiri whipped in a perfect cross and Undav, who also scored against Curaçao on opening day, kept his volley down and fired it home.

The VfB Stuttgart forward then won it in stoppage time. He latched onto Nmecha’s perfectly weighted pass and finished calmly past Fofana to snatch all three points for Germany.

That result books Germany a spot in the knockout rounds after group-stage exits at the last two World Cups. Ivory Coast’s fate now depends on their final group match if they want to reach the knockouts for the first time ever.