Amad Diallo, coming off the bench, delivered a stunning strike in the 90th minute, leading Côte d’Ivoire to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their Group E opener.
His goal, a first-time finish from Wilfried Singo’s well-placed cross, marked Côte d’Ivoire’s inaugural World Cup triumph against a South American team, while also ending Ecuador’s impressive unbeaten streak of 19 matches.
Diallo’s decisive moment capped off a remarkable display by 19-year-old Yan Diomande, as the Ivorians matched Germany’s points, who earlier dominated Curacao with a score of 7-1.
The youthful Ivorian squad, recognized as the youngest in this World Cup, appeared to be struggling before Singo made a decisive run up the right flank. His cross found Diallo perfectly positioned, allowing the 23-year-old Manchester United forward to deftly slot the ball into the bottom left corner, giving Côte d’Ivoire a dream start in their first World Cup finals appearance since 2014.
Ecuador’s most promising chances in the first half stemmed from Côte d’Ivoire’s lax defense, with John Yeboah and Alan Minda both hitting the crossbar in the 23rd and 30th minutes, respectively.
Despite this, Côte d’Ivoire showcased superior possession control, with Diomande proving a constant threat on Ecuador’s left side. In the 35th minute, he collected the ball at midfield, bypassed Piero Hincapié, and delivered a cross aimed at Nicolas Pépé, who was unable to convert after attempting to adjust for a better angle.
As the first half drew to a close, Singo almost executed a spectacular bicycle kick from Guéla Doué’s cross, which narrowly missed the target.
After the intermission, Côte d’Ivoire maintained their momentum, but in the 68th minute, Ecuador’s Gonzalo Plata forced Yahia Fofana into an uncomplicated save with a well-placed shot.
Before that moment, Diomande continued to shine. In the 52nd minute, his cross found Elye Wahi, whose first-time effort skimmed the top of the crossbar. Shortly after switching to the left side following two substitutions in the 56th minute, Diomande weaved through defenders Yeboah, Alan Franco, and Moises Caicedo before firing high over the goal.
The match took place near a significant population of over 600,000 Ecuadorian Americans residing in New York and New Jersey, where La Tricolor fans created a vibrant atmosphere, although they departed disappointed.
