Ecuador faced a must-win situation against Germany in their final Group E match in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 25. Facing a heavily favored German side, La Tri entered the game desperate to rescue a campaign that had previously seen them shut out by Curaçao. A crowd of 55,000 fans in yellow shirts chanted "Sí, se puede" as the match began.
The match remained tied midway through the second half as Ecuador's World Cup hopes dwindled. However, the tide turned in the 77th minute when Gonzalo Plata poked the ball past Manuel Neuer. Plata's strike sparked emotional celebrations and secured a 2-1 victory for Ecuador.
With this win, Ecuador resurrected their campaign and qualified for the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, marking their first knockout match since 2006. While Germany finished at the top of Group E followed by Ivory Coast in second, Ecuador's rally ensures they advance to the knockout stage.