Deniz Undav, Stuttgart’s super-sub, delivered the decisive blow four minutes into added time at Toronto’s BMO Field, pivoting to drive a left-footed shot past Yahia Fofana and restoring Germany’s World Cup pedigree after twelve years of group-stage failure. The 2‑1 victory over Ivory Coast in Group E – a match the Nationalmannschaft had trailed and then scrambled to salvage – was secured with a goal of clinical simplicity: Felix Nmecha’s through ball split the defence, Undav collected and swivelled, and the net rippled, sparking a roar from the predominantly German crowd of 43,000.

For much of the evening, that outcome had looked improbable. Ivory Coast, marshalled by the rampaging teenage winger Yan Diomandé, had taken a 30th‑minute lead through captain Franck Kessie, who swept home a rebound after Amad Diallo’s initial effort was blocked. Germany’s early possession dominance yielded only frustration: two goals were disallowed in the first half – Aleksandar Pavlovic ruled to have fouled the goalkeeper from a corner, and Kai Havertz’s finish chalked off for a Jamal Musiala infringement in the build‑up. At the interval, Julian Nagelsmann’s side had nothing to show for eight attempts and a 62% share of the ball, while the African champions threatened repeatedly on the break.

The game pivoted after the hour mark, when Nagelsmann threw on Undav, Nadiem Amiri, and Jamie Leweling in a triple change. Within eight minutes, Amiri’s deep, curling cross found Undav unmarked at the far post, and the forward hammered a first‑time volley into the roof of the net. The momentum shifted entirely. Germany pressed relentlessly, pinning Ivory Coast back, yet Fofana produced a series of fine saves to keep the Elephants level. A late chance for substitute Simon Adingra went begging when he hesitated inside the area, and the Ivorians were punished for that profligacy in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Undav struck again.

The win ends Germany’s dismal sequence of group‑stage exits in 2018 and 2022, and guarantees progress to the newly expanded round of 32 with a game to spare. It also equalled Brazil’s all‑time World Cup scoring record of 241 goals, a statistic noted by analysts in Berlin. Nagelsmann, who had earlier suggested Undav might start the final group match against Ecuador, hailed his forward’s ‘brutal’ finishing, while defender Jonathan Tah praised the ‘winning mentality’ of a squad that refused to buckle. For Ivory Coast, defeat stings but does not eliminate: they remain second in the group with three points and will likely need a win against Curacao in Philadelphia to book their own maiden knockout berth. Germany, meanwhile, head to New Jersey to face Ecuador with top spot and momentum firmly in hand.