Heart-stopping Finish! Ivory Coast Denies Ecuador a Reply

The match kicked off with Ecuador taking the initial possession, immediately pushing forward. In just the 2nd minute, Moisés Caicedo tested the goalkeeper with a shot from outside the box. The South American side had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 11th minute when captain Enner Valencia, after a defensive slip, found himself with the ball in the center of the penalty area, but his clear-cut chance went wide. Ecuador continued to threaten, with John Yeboah's technical shot narrowly missing the far post. However, Ivory Coast gradually came to life. Elye Wahi forced a save from Galíndez, and shortly after, an offensive attempt from the African team flew just wide of the right post. The biggest chance of the match until then came in the 23rd minute when a powerful shot from outside the box by the Ecuadorian players rattled Fofana's crossbar. After a brief hydration break and a yellow card for Seko Fofana, another heart-stopping moment unfolded for Ivory Coast. In the 30th minute, Alan Minda broke free on the left side of the box, and his technical effort once again struck the crossbar. In the final fifteen minutes of the first half, the game devolved into a relentless tactical battle filled with personal duels, resulting in further yellow cards for Kessié and Guéla Doué. The African team could have gone into the locker room with a lead, but Alan Franco's fantastic last-ditch block denied Nicolas Pépé's point-blank opportunity. Wilfried Singo's acrobatic bicycle kick also failed to change the score, leaving an attractive first half without a goal.

The second half picked up exactly where the first left off – with an offensive onslaught. Right at the start, Ecuador showcased a beautiful combination, culminating in another chance for Enner Valencia, but his shot from a tight angle only hit the near post. The game swung back and forth, and in the 52nd minute, the woodwork was rattled at the other end, with Ivory Coast clearly signaling their attacking intentions. Yan Diomande, playing individually, began to increase his activity on the wings, getting into dangerous scoring positions several times, but each time he shot over Galíndez's goal. Coaches reacted to the pace of the game with a series of substitutions, including the eventual hero of the match, Amad Diallo, entering the fray. The South American team tried to seize the lead, but goalkeeper Yahia Fofana safely dealt with a tricky shot from Gonzalo Plata, and the African team's defense also withstood a series of corner kicks after another hydration break. As the end approached, tension mounted; after a yellow card for Porozo, the game became fragmented, but Ivory Coast patiently waited for their opportunity. It arrived precisely in the 90th minute when the African team executed a textbook quick counter-attack. Wilfried Singo found the substitute Amad Diallo with a precise pass, and Diallo's cool finish to the left post gave the goalkeeper no chance. A stunned Ecuador, in the 7 minutes of added time, threw everything into attack, earning a series of set pieces and several corner kicks. However, Ivory Coast's defense survived the late pressure unscathed, weathering risky situations in front of their own box, and thus, after a dedicated performance, celebrated a remarkably valuable victory.