The MetLife Stadium had barely settled when Germany carved open Ecuador’s defence. With less than two minutes on the clock, Florian Wirtz slipped a pass into the area and Leroy Sané finished left-footed to give the four-time champions a lead that, for a few minutes, threatened to extinguish South American resistance. Ecuadorian players protested furiously, insisting Aleksandar Pavlović had committed a high-foot foul on Pedro Vite in the build-up, but referee Tori Penso let the goal stand. The sense of injustice, however, galvanised the side that had failed to score in its first two matches.

Ecuador’s response was swift and spectacular. In the ninth minute, Nilson Angulo collected a loose ball in midfield, drove forward and unleashed a shot from outside the box that bent beyond Manuel Neuer’s reach. It was Ecuador’s first goal of the tournament and, viewed from Quito, a moment of catharsis after a goalless draw with Curaçao and a narrow defeat to Ivory Coast. The equaliser shifted the match’s rhythm: Ecuador, roared on by a crowd that had earlier filled Times Square, began to press higher and disrupt Germany’s passing sequences, while Julian Nagelsmann’s side, already assured of top spot in Group E, sought to reassert control through Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz.

Germany’s team sheet showed only two changes from the side that beat Ivory Coast, with Antonio Rüdiger and David Raum replacing the injured Nico Schlotterbeck and Nathaniel Brown. Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece, under heavy criticism at home, brought in Joel Ordóñez and Angulo for Jordy Alcívar and Pervis Estupiñán. The tactical battle unfolded on a surface that had drawn complaints from other teams for its hardness, but both sides adapted quickly. Germany threatened through Havertz, whose header was gathered by Hernán Galíndez, and Musiala, whose shot was blocked. At the other end, Enner Valencia, still searching for his 50th international goal, saw an effort smothered by Jonathan Tah after a promising counter.

As the first-half hydration break arrived, the scoreboard read 1-1, a result that would eliminate Ecuador if Ivory Coast avoided defeat against Curaçao in the group’s other fixture. Ecuador entered the match third in the group with a single point, knowing only a victory could keep them in contention for a place in the round of 32, either as runners-up or as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Germany, with six points and a plus-seven goal difference, were already through as group winners, ending a 12-year wait to return to the knockout stages. The early exchanges in New Jersey, however, suggested Ecuador were not yet ready to surrender their World Cup campaign.