Super-sub Undav sends Germany into knockouts

TORONTO — An hour into the game, Germany was getting outplayed by Cote d'Ivoire and trailed by a goal.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann needed a spark and substituted three fresh players on, one of whom was Deniz Undav. That decision paid off big time.

Undav scored two goals off the bench as Germany pulled off a thrilling comeback to beat Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 in its World Cup Group E match on Saturday, securing its place in the knockout stage for the first time since it won the title in 2014.

After having two goals disallowed in the first half, Germany did not lose focus and used intricate passing to find its way, while the West Africans produced their dynamic brand of attacking soccer in a wild encounter at Toronto Stadium.

"It's important that everyone sees that even the players from the bench can decide games," said Undav, who also scored in Germany's 7-1 opening match rout of Curacao. "Now we have sent a really important signal to the team. I think that's very important in a game like this."

"We showed great character today," said the versatile striker, who now has nine goals in his last eight matches. "We want to achieve the most (we can)."

Undav leveled the score with a controlled, volleyed finish in the 68th minute and struck again in stoppage time when he received a pass on the turn, before swivelling and firing home a ball that Yahia Fofana had no chance at stopping.

Simon Adingra had a late chance for Cote d'Ivoire, but he failed to get a shot off in the area before Germany charged back down the field where Fofana blocked a low shot from Nathaniel Brown.

The loss denied, at least for now, Cote d'Ivoire the chance of securing its first trip to the knockout stages.

"We wanted to make history today," said Cote d'Ivoire winger Amad Diallo. "But I think everything was a little tight."

Unfamiliar territory

Cote d'Ivoire had opened the scoring in the first half when Franck Kessie slotted home a rebound off a shot from Diallo on a play created when Yan Diomande charged down the left side and sent in a cross.

With more than 100,000 people of German ancestry living in Toronto, Nagelsmann's men enjoyed plenty of support, but were a frustrated group at the interval with nothing to show for their eight attempts on goal.

It was definitely unfamiliar territory for Germany, as it marked only the fourth time it has faced a halftime deficit in its last 36 contests at the global showpiece.

But, after the break, a more active German side showed up, one that took more risks and was determined to dedicate everything to its effort to win.

"In the end, we deservedly won it," Nagelsmann told reporters. "The boys invested a lot. I'm very happy for the whole team."

"This is exactly what we hoped for, and I'm very happy for my team," Nagelsmann said.

He said that after his two-goal performance, Undav could make the starting 11 in Germany's third group stage match against Ecuador, but also stressed that the Stuttgart forward was thriving as a substitute.

"I could have him in the starting lineup," Nagelsmann said. "I think that every player would love to be in the starting lineup, but I think he's very happy as it is right now."

Two goals scratched off

Germany looked to have opened the scoring when midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rose to meet a short corner in the 25th minute, but was deemed to have fouled Fofana in the process.

The ruling left Pavlovic with his hands atop his head in disbelief, as Fofana received some attention after the collision and the partisan German crowd made their disdain for the referee's decision known.

Shortly afterward, it was Cote d'Ivoire that finally broke through with Kessie's goal.

The West Africans have scored in their last seven matches at the tournament, the longest such sequence on the global stage in their history.

Germany once again put the ball in the back of the net, but its celebrations were cut short as the referee determined that Jamal Musiala had fouled Odilon Kossounou in the build-up.

"We had exactly what it takes to succeed in a tournament, a winning mentality, team spirit," said German defender Jonathan Tah.

"We didn't give up; we just kept going.

"The guys coming off the bench brought new energy to the game. Deniz deserves special mention. He was outstanding."

After a court fight to get into Canada, Elye Wahi, the Cote d'Ivoire striker under investigation for alleged betting-related offenses while playing in France for Nice, did not play.

Germany tops Group E with six points and is through to the last 32, while Cote d'Ivoire remains on three after two matches. Ecuador and Curacao played to a goalless draw in Kansas City in a later match on Saturday.

Germany will close out the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday in New Jersey, while Cote d'Ivoire faces Curacao in Philadelphia.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA