Deniz Undav scored twice after coming off the bench as Germany sealed a 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast in Toronto on Saturday to reach the World Cup knockout phase for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2014.
Franck Kessie turned in from close range to give the Ivorians a 30th-minute lead, but Undav volleyed home midway through the second half before snatching an injury-time winner.
Full time! Germany win 2-1!
Deniz Undav is the hero for Germany after coming off the bench to turn the game around, scoring two goals and threatening more.
Heartbreak for Ivory Coast, who came so close and were the better team for much of the game.
Photo: Thomas Mukoya, Reuters
Undav scores! Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast!
Nmecha sends a beautiful pass into the feet of Undav, who turns and slots the ball into the corner.
What a comeback!
What a chance!
Amiri really should put Germany ahead put his weak shot from the middle of the box is straight at Fofana.
Six minutes of added time
This is frantic, box-to-box football now.
Great save by Fofana!
A lovely German move ends with Brown volleying across the goalkeeper, but Fofana dives to his left and palms away.
Doué, Pepe and Goretska on
Guela Doué, brother of France’s Désiré Doué, has come on for the injured Singo. Nicola Pepe is also on for the tiring Diomande.
On the German side, Havertz makes way for Goretzka.
Singo off injured
The excellent Singo is forced off after appearing to tweak his hamstring.
A big blow for the Ivorians.
Drinks!
And a timely break for the Ivorians, who suddenly find themselves in a pickle.
Undav finds the net! Germany are level!
Amiri, who’s made quite the impact since coming on, finds Undav in the box with a lovely chip, and the powerful forward volleys home from close range.
Timely substitutions indeed.
Havertz close!
Kimmich swings a good cross in to the far post. Fofana is beaten but Havertz, perhaps surprised to see the keeper miss, puts his header wide.
That’s a bad miss.
Triple change
Three changes for Germany, who are in desperate need of a reset.
Sane, Musiala and Pavlovic come off for Leweling, Undav and Amiri.
Germany on the ropes
The German defence is soaking in wave after wave of Ivorian attacks.
The Mannshaft is getting outmanoeuvered and outrun.
Ivory Coast come close!
An even better chance for Oulai after another brilliant run, but his shot sails over the bar.
Ivory Coast should be 2-0 up.
Chance for Kessie!
Kessie has the ball inside the Germany box after a barnstorming charge from his own half but he’s slightly off balance and can only pass the ball to Neuer.
Captain and goalscorer. Photo: Kevin Sousa, Reuters
Half-time!
That was frantic stuff.
Germany haven’t played badly, but Ivory Coast have put more energy into the game. And their game plan has been spot on: tight in defence and deadly on the counter, always appearing to outnumber their opponents.
Musiala goes down in the box
The Germans want a penalty, but there’s really not much contact. Musiala started losing his balance outside the area.
