Germany Vs Côte d’Ivoire: Undav’s Late Brace Rescues Germany as Côte d’Ivoire Heartbreak Gives Way to Round of 32 Berth

Julian Nagelsmann’s triple substitution transformed the game as Deniz Undav scored twice in the second half, including a 93rd-minute winner, to send Germany through.

Germany secured their place in the World Cup Round of 32 with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Côte d’Ivoire at BMO Field in Toronto, as substitute Deniz Undav scored twice in the second half to overturn a first-half deficit.

Germany entered the match as heavy favourites after hitting Curaçao for seven goals on opening day. However, Julian Nagelsmann’s side faced immense frustration in the first half. Germany dictated the tempo with 55 percent possession but had a Kai Havertz goal chalked off by VAR for a foul by Jamal Musiala in the buildup.

Côte d’Ivoire fiercely executed their game plan and broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Franck Kessié fired home a rebound past Manuel Neuer. Germany had yet another equaliser ruled out just before halftime, heading into the locker stunned at 1-0.

The Elephants emerged completely dominant early in the second half, with Amad Diallo and Christ Inao Oulaï nearly breaking the game wide open. Desperate for answers, Nagelsmann executed a bold triple substitution in the 59th minute, pulling off Musiala, Leroy Sané, and Aleksandar Pavlović to inject Undav, Jamie Leweling, and Nadiem Amiri.

The gamble changed the match entirely. In the 68th minute, Undav latched onto an Amiri pass to poke home the equaliser. Deep into injury time, in the 93rd minute, Undav rose highest to nod home a brilliant Felix Nmecha cross, sealing all three points and sending the German supporters into celebration.

Germany finished with 16 shots, seven on target, while Côte d’Ivoire managed nine shots, two on target. German passing accuracy stood at 90 percent compared to Côte d’Ivoire’s 85 percent. Germany also dominated corners eight to three.

Undav’s spectacular performance makes him the first German international to score a second-half brace completely off the bench at a World Cup finals since Andre Schürrle against Brazil in 2014.

According to a report by Accra Street Journal, with six points from two games, Germany is officially through to the Round of 32. Côte d’Ivoire remains on three points and will look to salvage qualification on Matchday 3. The match was the first-ever senior competitive meeting between the two nations at a major tournament.

Source: Accra Street Journal 

Last Updated on June 21, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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