Ecuador hadn’t scored a single goal in two World Cup matches. Then everything changed against Germany in N.J.

Around 22 Ecuadorian fans nervously looked up at one of the many large screens at MetLife Stadium and quickly erupted into screams and hugs.

The South American team, which hadn’t scored a single goal in their first two Group C matchups of the 2026 World Cup, finally got the spark they were looking for. In the ninth minute, winger Nilson Angulo sent a beautiful ball into the bottom right-hand corner past legendary Germany goalie Manuel Neuer for a much-needed 1-1 equalizer.

Do you believe in miracles? A fan named Wakanda, who arrived in New Jersey at 6 a.m. on Thursday from Ecuador, certainly believed in the full extent of the word.

“Ecuador is a country that’s very strong,” Wakanda told NJ.com. “When you feel like they’re going to lose, they win. As long as we keep pressing the attack, we’ll be in good shape.”‘

Other fans like Ruben, who traveled to MetLife from New York with 10 of his friends, expressed a slightly more cautious optimism. “Let’s see what happens, you know?” he said, “We’re here, we’re Ecuadorian, and we’re always going to go for our team the entire time.”

As a last bit of undeniable belief (and a little bit of psychic foresight), there was Wakanda’s prediction. “We are going to win 2-1,” he said with a smile.

It turns out he’s a smart guy with an uncanny ability to see into the future.

The German squad held most of the possession during the match (61%) and had the most shots with 11 (3 on goal). Yet, Ecuador was aggressive on the offensive end when it counted.

In the 77th minute, right winger Gonzalo Plata pushed a crafty poke off of defender Kevin Rodriguez‘s header past Neuer to take a 2-1 lead. It made good on an attempt from Rodriguez minutes earlier, who almost capitalized on a mix-up from Neuer and center back Jonathan Tah, but pushed it over the net. The South American squad secured third place in the group and a place in the round of 32 against one of the best teams in the tournament.

To say the South American team had the odds stacked against it in its third Group E match would be an understatement. Despite bringing a 19-game unbeaten streak into the 2026 World Cup and having conceded only six goals during that run, the South American team, considered a World Cup dark horse, was reeling.

First, there was the 1-0 loss to the Ivory Coast in the Group E opener. Then, a disappointing 0-0 tie against Curaçao, which saw Ecuador take 27 shots without a goal and goalie Eloy Room net 15 saves, one short of USA’s Tim Howard‘s record 16 saves.

Germany came into their third Group C matchup of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, clinching first place and a spot in the knockout round of 32, with a 7-1 win over Curaçao and a 2-1 nail-biter against the Ivory Coast. In the first two minutes, the heavily favored European team delivered a stunner.

Winger Leroy Sane made it through a crowd of Ecuadorian defenders and scored the second-fastest goal in World Cup history behind Ernst Lehner’s first-minute goal against Austria in 1934.

The chatter of Ecuador’s lauded win streak, only being eight victories in total, grew louder. The hope for legendary striker 36-year-old Enner Valencia, who needs one more goal to reach 50 international goals to craft one more magic moment, became more dire. Not to mention, the same Ivory Coast team was on its way to a 2-0 victory against Curaçao and a sure spot in the knockout round with a second-place Group C finish.

But the Ecuador squad, embodying the spirit of the fans, who made up over half of the 80,663-strong sold-out crowd, never let their foot off the gas. Chants of “Sí, se puede” grew louder and louder, feeding energy to the squad as they grew closer to the goal.

Teary-eyed fathers hugged their sons, and women threw up Ecuadorian flags as they screamed. German fans, already top of the group at the start of the day, smiled and high-fived the Ecuadorians. Fans stood in their seats, singing “NEWWW YOOOORK” from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’s defacto anthem “Empire State of Mind” and “Nuestro Juramento” from iconic Ecuadorian singer Julio Jamilo.

To think, Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece said he put his job on the line if his team didn’t advance into the knockout round. At the conclusion of the match, he jumped into the stands like a rock star, greeted by jubilant fans who had finally seen the fruits of the promise they had seen in the team leading into the World Cup.

“Ecuador is a passion, said fan Christopher Espinoza while celebrating the win. “I’m here from Quito. I love being here, I love watching my country. I’m of Ecuadorian blood, and I love it. Ecuador is an unexplainable passion.”

“It was stressful, man,” said Ryan, who traveled from Orlando and has been following the team to each of their matches. “Losing the first game, a tie that no one thought would happen, to winning the last game when everybody had us out, it’s unbelievable.”

Ecuador awaits its fate in finding out who it’ll face in the round of 32. They do it with an immaculate defensive trio of Willian Pacho, Joel Ordóñez, and Piero Hincapié, but now with the wind at their backs, with offense to match.

Ecuadorian soccer legend Antonio Valencia issued an apology on behalf of the players after their frustrating game against Curaçao.

But those apologies turned into belief with small pockets of celebration to follow outside MetLife Stadium Thursday evening.

Chants of “Sí, se puede!” were contagious as the fans went their separate ways – now knowing that they at least get to see the story continue.

Did you want another World Cup miracle? Well, you got one. Give your thanks to Wakanda.

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