Germany came from behind to beat Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 on Saturday night at BMO Field, with substitute Deniz Undav scoring twice in the second half, including a stoppage-time winner, to complete the turnaround.
Franck Kessié had given Côte d’Ivoire the lead in the 30th minute, but Undav’s double in the final half-hour swung the match in Germany’s favor in front of a crowd in Toronto.
Kessié strike puts Cote d’Ivoire ahead
Germany dominated the early exchanges without finding the breakthrough. Kai Havertz forced a save from goalkeeper Yahia Fofana inside the first minute, and the forward tested him again with a header in the 10th minute, assisted by Joshua Kimmich. Jamal Musiala and Felix Nmecha also had efforts blocked or saved as the half wore on.
Against the run of play, Cote d’Ivoire took the lead in the 30th minute when Kessié struck a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner. The goal came moments after Amad Diallo had a close-range effort blocked.
Germany created one more clear chance before the break, Florian Wirtz forcing a save from Fofana in the seventh minute of stoppage time, but the sides went into halftime with Cote d’Ivoire ahead 1-0.
Germany made one change at the interval, with Antonio Rudiger replacing the injured Nico Schlotterbeck.
Undav delivers off the bench
Germany made a triple substitution just after the hour mark, bringing on Undav, Nadiem Amiri and Jamie Leweling. The change paid off quickly. In the 68th minute, Undav leveled the score with a close-range left-footed finish to the top of the goal, assisted by Amiri’s cross.
Cote d’Ivoire responded with three substitutions of its own, introducing Evann Guessand, Seko Fofana and Simon Adingra in the 75th minute as the match entered a tense final stretch.
Chances came at both ends, Fofana saw a shot blocked, while Germany continued to press through Undav and substitute Nathaniel Brown, both of whom were denied by Yahia Fofana.
With the match deep into stoppage time, six minutes of which had been signaled by the fourth official, Germany found the winner. In the 90th+4th minute, Undav struck again, a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner,
