Deniz Undav scores late double as Germany edge Ivory Coast 2-1 to reach World Cup knockout stage
Substitute Deniz Undav struck twice, including a late winner, to give Germany a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in Toronto and a place in the round of 16.
Ivory Coast's threat on the break
From the opening whistle, Ivory Coast’s game plan was clear: absorb pressure and unleash Yan Diomandé. The winger tormented Germany captain Joshua Kimmich throughout the first half, beating him repeatedly with acceleration and close control. Diomandé’s raids down the left became the match’s dominant feature, and Germany’s attempts to monopolise possession were blunted by a compact African block.
Kai Havertz gave an early warning in the 9th minute, forcing goalkeeper Yahia Fofana into a sharp save from a header, but genuine fluency was missing. Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz drifted without linking to the midfield, and Felix Nmecha’s long-range efforts found no reward. A headed goal by Aleksandar Pavlovic was disallowed for a foul on Fofana, leaving Germany frustrated.
Kessié opens the scoring
Half an hour in, Diomandé’s persistence paid off. Another burst past Kimmich took him to the byline, and his low cross found Amad Diallo. Nathaniel Brown blocked the first shot, but Franck Kessié pounced on the rebound to slam the ball past Manuel Neuer. The 0-1 scoreline jolted the Germans, who could not muster a response before the break against a physically superior opponent.
After the restart, Ivory Coast continued to threaten. Teenage midfielder Inao Oulai, turning elegantly in tight spaces, nearly doubled the lead when a rapid transition ended with his shot sailing high. Germany lived on isolated moments, such as a long-range effort from Antonio Rudiger that betrayed the team’s frustration from back to front.
Nagelsmann changes the game
Facing elimination from the group, German coach Julian Nagelsmann sent on Nadiem Amiri and Deniz Undav in the 60th minute. The move was decisive. Eight minutes later, Amiri received the ball near the corner of the box and delivered a measured cross that Undav swept home at the far post for 1-1.
The equaliser turned the contest into a German monologue, though Ivory Coast refused to fold. Nicolas Pépé fashioned a late break, leaving Simon Adingra with a chance to steal victory, but the winger’s heavy touch squandered the opening.
Undav strikes the winner
As the match ticked into its final moments, Undav struck again. After Fofana had produced vital saves in the 89th and 91st minutes, the substitute forward found the net with what proved to be the decisive goal, handing Germany a dramatic 2-1 victory. The result, paired with an earlier win, secures the team’s passage to the round of 16 from Group E.
Germany’s performance, however, raised questions about their tournament prospects. The side struggled to dismantle an Ivory Coast team that had already beaten Ecuador, and the reliance on attacking substitutions masked deeper structural issues that Nagelsmann will need to address before the knockout stages.
