CORNERFLICK
Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0 in Philadelphia after Yan Diomandé scored in the 90th minute to settle a tense World Cup contest.
The 20-year-old forward, named player of the match, decided it with a direct free-kick from distance in stoppage time. He had already been one of the standout performers, finishing with eight key passes, four successful dribbles and three tackles.
Ivory Coast controlled much of the game and held 57% possession, while Ecuador’s defence, led by Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapié, kept them out until the final minute. The match had been goalless through 89 minutes before Diomandé broke the deadlock.
The result marked a first World Cup win for Ivory Coast against South American opposition, after three straight defeats in previous meetings. Ecuador were left empty-handed after coming close to taking a point from the match.