PHILADELPHIA, PA — For a moment, it appeared that Ecuador and the Ivory Coast would come away with the first scoreless draw of the 2026 World Cup.
That was until Ivory Coast forward Amad Diallo scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute.
Diallo's goal not only handed Ivory Coast a 1-0 win at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to open up Group E play on Sunday, June 14, but it also put into perspective the missed opportunities that Ecuador had, ones that could have resulted in it walking away with three points itself instead.
"They finished, we didn't. We leave with a defeat, but with our heads up," Ecuador forward Enner Valencia said postgame. "Heads up, knowing that this just started, and we've got a whole tournament ahead. We've got two more matches, so now we need to rest and prepare for those."
Ecuador started the match with controlled possession and created some early looks goal against Ivory Coast's defense. That included one in the 23rd minute when John Yeboah recovered the ball and moved through a pair of defenders, but the shot hit the crossbar.
That was until Ivory Coast forward Amad Diallo scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute.
Diallo's goal not only handed Ivory Coast a 1-0 win at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to open up Group E play on Sunday, June 14, but it also put into perspective the missed opportunities that Ecuador had, ones that could have resulted in it walking away with three points itself instead.
"They finished, we didn't. We leave with a defeat, but with our heads up," Ecuador forward Enner Valencia said postgame. "Heads up, knowing that this just started, and we've got a whole tournament ahead. We've got two more matches, so now we need to rest and prepare for those."
Ecuador started the match with controlled possession and created some early looks goal against Ivory Coast's defense. That included one in the 23rd minute when John Yeboah recovered the ball and moved through a pair of defenders, but the shot hit the crossbar.
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