Amad Diallo's Late Goal Secures Ivory Coast Win Over Ecuador

In a thrilling World Cup opener, Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to give the Ivory Coast a 1-0 victory over Ecuador. The match, held in Philadelphia, saw a crowd of 68,274, with both teams struggling to find the net until Diallo's decisive strike.

The 23-year-old Diallo, who came on for Bazoumana Koné shortly after the hour mark, capitalized on a low cross from Wilfried Singo. This victory marks Ivory Coast's first World Cup win since they defeated Japan in 2014, and they aim to advance to the knockout phase for the first time since then.

Ecuador, known for their strong defensive record during qualification, had previously finished second behind Argentina in South American qualifiers. The match featured several near misses, including two shots hitting the crossbar from Ecuador.

The Ivory Coast will next face Germany in Toronto, while Ecuador will look to bounce back against Curacao in Kansas City.