Ecuador shock Germany, seal spot in World Cup knockout stage - ESPN

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Gonzalo Plata poked the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute, and Ecuador advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup by rallying for a 2-1 win over Germany on Thursday.

Germany, who clinched first place in Group E with victories in their first two games, went ahead on Leroy Sané's second-minute goal. Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador's first goal of the tournament in the ninth minute.

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Plata, who took a kick to the head when Germany scored its early goal, keyed Ecuador's great escape after Pedro Vite's corner kick was nodded on by Kevin Rodríguez. Neuer, the 40-year-old Germany goalkeeper who came out of international retirement for the World Cup, was about to grasp the ball when Plata raised his left foot and with a toe put the ball into the net.

Neuer has now conceded more goals (four) than he has made saves (three) at the World Cup, while Germany have allowed a goal in nine straight World Cup games, tying the team's longest ever run without a shutout at the FIFA World Cup (also between 1934 and 1954).

It gave Ecuador their first win over a UEFA opponent in any competition since 2013.

Ecuador finished third in the group with four points, behind Germany and Ivory Coast, and are guaranteed to advance as one of the best eight third-place teams. It's only the second time they have made it to the World Cup knockout stage and the first since 2006.

Germany's winning streak was stopped at 11 games, one shy of the team record set in 1979-80. The four-time champions will play their round-of-32 game Monday at Foxborough, Massachusetts, most likely against Paraguay, Australia or