World Cup schedule, live updates: Follow Germany vs. Ecuador, Ivory Coast vs. Curaçao

1. Germany – 6 points (+6 GD)
2. Ivory Coast – 6 points (+2 GD)
3. Ecuador – 4 points (0 GD)
4. Curaçao – 1 point (-8 GD)

Ecuador has taken the lead! They were knocking on the door with a shot by Kevin Rodriguez moments earlier, but it’s Gonzalo Plata with a cute flick into the net off a corner kick that gets it done.

Ecuador is alive!

A brief break for the players as these two games come down the final stretch.

Does Ecuador have any magic left to stay alive in this tournament?

Ivory Coast has all but clinched its first knockout-round appearance now that it’s up 2-0 in the second half.

Once again, it’s Nicolas Pépé finding the back of the net. After receiving a perfectly placed pass from Ibrahim Sangaré, Pépé used his left foot to deliver a far-post shot toward twine.

Sherel Floranus flirted with an equalizer for Curaçao. He launched a shot outside the box toward the top-left corner of the cage.

His strike was just a bit too high, as it soared over the crossbar.

Similar to the first half, there was action right away in the second.

It appeared as if Germany was going to get a penalty kick, as Ecuador’s Joel Ordóñez fouled Germany’s Kai Havertz from behind in the box.

But that infraction was nullified after a previous challenge made by Germany’s Leroy Sané on Ecuador’s Pedro Vite was reviewed and ruled a foul.

We are back for the second half of action in Group E. As it stands right now, Ivory Coast would be through to the knockout round. Ecuador and Curacao would be out. Germany is the group winner and moving on regardless.

Quick starts in both matches with all three goals coming within the opening 10 minutes. Leroy Sané needed less than two minutes to put Germany in front. Nilson Angulo would answer seven minutes later for Ecuador. A mess in the back resulted in Nicolas Pépé slotting home the goal for Ivory Coast.

Live Group E table

1. Germany – 7 points (+7 GD)
2. Ivory Coast – 6 points (+1 GD)
3. Ecuador – 2 points (-1 GD)
4. Curaçao – 1 point (-7 GD)

Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié gets booked for grabbing Leroy Sané’s jersey. Moments later, Germany’s Aleksandar Pavlović gets cautioned for a tactical foul on Enner Valencia.

Ivory Coast’s Nicolas Pépé, the game’s only goal scorer, is issued a yellow card for a late challenge on Tahith Chong.

A high boot by Germany’s Aleksandar Pavlović on Ecuador’s Pedro Vite went uncalled. That led to Leroy Sané goal. VAR did not see an issue.

Nilson Angulo saw the space and picked his spot in the Germany net as he punched a shot past Manuel Neuer to level the match with Germany.

Curaçao make a mess of it at the back and are unable to clear the ball. That allows Yan Diomandé to find Nicolas Pépé, who put home the opening goal.

Leroy Sané puts Germany ahead with a left-footed strike after Ecuador are unable to clear a throw-in. It’s his 18th international goal.

Curaçao and Ivory Coast have kicked off from Philadelphia, while Germany and Ecuador get underway from New Jersey in Group E action.

1. Germany – 6 points (+7 GD)
2. Ivory Coast – 3 points (0 GD)
3. Ecuador – 1 point (-2 GD)
4. Curaçao – 1 point (-6 GD)

Qualified: Germany
Eliminated: None

Germany has already clinched first place in Group E and a Round of 32 matchup with a third-place team.

Ivory Coast can secure second place with a win over Curaçao and would also advance with a draw unless Ecuador beats Germany by at least two goals.

Ecuador still has a chance to finish second but needs a big win over Germany and help from Curaçao. Curaçao remains alive as well, though it needs a win and a major goal-difference swing.

Ecuador (4-3-3): Hernán Galíndez; Alan Franco, Piero Hincapié, Willian Pacho, Joel Ordóñez; Pedro Vite, Moisés Caicedo, John Yeboah; Gonzalo Plata, Enner Valencia, Nilson Angulo

Germany (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rüdiger, Jonathan Tah, David Raum; Aleksandar Pavlovic, Felix Nmecha; Leroy Sané, Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala; Florian Wirtz

Curaçao (5-3-2): Eloy Room; Joshua Brenet, Deveron Fonville, Sherel Floranus, Armando Obispo; Juriën Gaari, Tahith Chong, Livano Comenencia; Jürgen Locadia, Leandro Bacuna, Juninho Bacuna

Ivory Coast (4-4-2): Yahia Fofana; Guéla Doué, Christopher Opéri, Franck Kessie, Ousmane Diomande, Odilon Kossounou; Amad Diallo, Ibrahim Sangaré, Ange-Yoan Bonny; Nicolas Pépé, Yan Diomande

Only four teams have yet to a concede a goal as group play winds down. Mexico went through the group stage with three clean sheets. Spain, Argentina and Ghana each still have one match to play before the round of 32.

🇲🇽 Mexico
🇪🇸 Spain
🇦🇷 Argentina
🇬🇭 Ghana