PHILADELPHIA (AP) 鈥� Ivory Coast did not make the knockout round in three previous World Cups. Les 脡l茅phant came to the United States set on changing that 鈥� and they are off to a great start.
Amad Diallo to lift Ivory Coast to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in its first appearance in a dozen years.
鈥淲e came here with ambitions and high hopes,鈥� coach Emerse Fa茅 said through an interpreter. 鈥淓verything is going well.鈥�
The teams combined to hit the crossbar three times before Diallo 鈥� the Manchester United winger who entered as a substitute in the 56th minute 鈥� broke through with a left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area that beat diving goalkeeper Hern谩n Gal铆ndez. Wilfried Singo set up the goal with a strong run down the right side.
鈥淭his was a fantastic goal,鈥� Fa茅 said. 鈥�(Singo) delivered a wonderful assist to Diallo, and he finished well. Very happy to see just what we worked on.鈥�
Ecuador saw its 19-game unbeaten streak end with its first loss since a 1-0 decision against Brazil on Sept. 6, 2024.
鈥淚t hurts,鈥� Ecuador coach Sebasti谩n Beccacece said through an interpreter. 鈥淭his is a very painful situation. It needs to make you stronger for the future.鈥�
Elye Wahi hit the crossbar in the 52nd minute for Ivory Coast after Ecuador鈥檚 John Yeboah and Nilson Angulo did the same in the opening half.
Ecuador, making its fifth World Cup appearance and looking to reach the knockout round for the second time, was playing a virtual home game at Lincoln Financial Field, with most of the capacity crowd of 68,274 wearing the yellow jerseys of La Tri.
鈥淚 am very sorry we did not give our fans the joy they came to seek,鈥� Beccacece said.
Ecuador looked strong before Diallo鈥檚 goal. Its best chance after halftime came in the 68th minute on Gonzalo Plata鈥檚 hard shot from about 25 yards out that was parried away by goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
鈥淲e鈥檙e leaving with a loss, but we鈥檙e keeping our heads held high knowing that this is just the beginning and there鈥檚 still a tournament ahead of us,鈥� Ecuador captain Enner Valencia said.
Ivory Coast was bolstered by the forward play of Yan Diomande. The Leipzig attacker created several scoring chances, particularly down the right side. That included Wahi鈥檚 near goal on a flick following Diomande鈥檚 hard cross.
鈥淗e is very talented,鈥� Fa茅 said. 鈥淚ncredible player.鈥�
Ivory Coast, which did not concede a goal while going 8-0-2 in 10 qualifying matches, will next face four-time World Cup champion Germany, which defeated Curacao 7-1 earlier Sunday in Group E. Ecuador will meet Curacao. Both matches will be played June 20.
Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessi茅 set the tone for the physical play of Les 脡l茅phant with a hard foul in the fourth minute. Kessi茅 went on to pick up one of three yellow cards for his side, all for reckless challenges, in the opening 45 minutes. Jackson Porozo of Ecuador was cautioned in the 73rd minute.
鈥淲e know that high-level football requires much intensity,鈥� Fa茅 said.
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