Undav Off the Bench Twice, Germany Beat Ivory Coast 2-1

Germany Overturn Kessie’s Opener Through Undav

Germany were comfortably the stronger side on paper, but it was Ivory Coast who struck first. Franck Kessie, the Ivorian captain, put his side ahead in the 30th minute after a sharp build-up involving Yan Diomande, who had been lively all through the opening half.

Germany’s frustration in the first half was compounded when VAR ruled out two goals for fouls in the build-up, leaving them a goal down at the interval and defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who had rolled his ankle early in the half, unable to continue, replaced by Antonio Rudiger.

Nagelsmann acted at the hour mark, bringing Undav and Nadiem Amiri into the game as part of a triple substitution. The impact was immediate: in the 68th minute, Amiri’s cross evaded Kai Havertz but found Undav arriving into the area, and the striker volleyed cleanly past Yahia Fofana to level proceedings.

Both sides pushed for a winner through the closing stages, with Fofana making saves to keep Ivory Coast level into stoppage time. In the 90th minute, Felix Nmecha slid a precise pass through to Undav, who took one touch to turn inside the area and fired into the bottom corner to complete a dramatic turnaround.

VAR Denials, Then Undav Changes Everything

Germany’s first half was defined by two disallowed goals, both overturned by VAR for fouls in the build-up, leaving them a goal down against the run of their chances.

Nagelsmann’s triple change at the 60-minute mark proved the decisive intervention: Undav and Amiri combined for the equaliser eight minutes later. The winner in stoppage time saw Nmecha pick out Undav with a precise pass; Undav turned on the ball inside the area and struck low past Fofana to seal three points.

Undav Reprises Super-Sub Role With Decisive Brace

His 68th-minute volley was composed, and his stoppage-time winner, controlling Nmecha’s through-ball, turning, and finishing low, required real technical quality under pressure.

He is now the first Germany player to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances since Miroslav Klose in 2002, and his five goal contributions in just 56 minutes of total tournament football have given Nagelsmann a significant selection dilemma heading into the third group game.

Knockout Place Secured, Schlotterbeck Fitness the Concern

Germany top Group E and need only a point from their final game against Ecuador to guarantee finishing first, a result that would also arrive automatically if Ecuador fail to beat Curacao. Nagelsmann will be watching the fitness of Schlotterbeck, whose ankle issue emerged inside the first ten minutes against Ivory Coast; the German medical staff were expected to assess his availability as the squad prepares for that decider.

For Ivory Coast, the defeat leaves them needing a result in their final group fixture to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their World Cup history. Having beaten Ecuador in the opener, they remain in contention, but coach Emerse Faé will need to find a way to hold leads, the lessons of this late collapse in Toronto will weigh heavily on his preparations.