Ivory Coast v Ecuador

Caicedo takes a huge breath as he tries to compose himself, but his corner is beaten away – and the referee sounds his final whistle!

FULL-TIME: IVORY COAST 1-0 ECUADOR

We’re beyond the allotted seven minutes of added time, and Ecuador push forward once more, winning a corner. This will surely be the final act of the contest.

Kossounou defends superbly against Hincapie, who initially had the jump on him, and Caicedo strides across to take the corner. It comes to little, though, and Ivory Coast are almost over the line now.

Can Ecuador repay the faith shown by the thousands of their adoring fans who made the trip to North America? They could easily have had a goal or two tonight already – and they know it.

There are seven minutes of added time to contend with here, and the drama may not be quite done yet.

Singo does brilliantly to surge up the pitch from centre‑back, and his pass is inch‑perfect for Amad to meet without breaking stride.

90'

Goal

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!! IVORY COAST HAVE SURELY WON IT IN THE 90TH MINUTE! 1-0! Singo is allowed to stride freely down the right flank – and Ecuador pay the ultimate price. His cut‑back finds Amad waiting on the edge of the box, the whole moment begging to be finished. The Manchester United wide man opens up his body and tucks it away beautifully on his left foot, the ball drifting into the bottom‑left corner. The Elephants are in dreamland. Ecuador can only rue the chances they let slip.

89'

Substitution

Doue was one foul away from a second yellow, so he’s sensibly withdrawn from the fray, with Kossounou coming on to see things out.

Konan throws himself in the way of an Ecuador effort, and La Tri have a corner on the near side, Angulo trotting across to take it. The delivery comes to nothing, and you sense both sides might just about settle for a point at this stage.

Doue has been in the thick of some real duels this evening, and he’s locked into another as he brings down Angulo – the fresh legs doing him for pace. Ecuador have a free‑kick on the far side, and what a time this would be to finally open the scoring.

Ordonez is the next to fall foul of the recently introduced 60‑second rule, forced to leave the pitch after a brief injury concern.

Diomande skips past Ordonez with a slice of luck, then eases beyond Doue as the space opens up. The ball is squeezed through to Konan, who pulls his effort wide – Ordonez recovering fantastically to put him under just enough pressure.

Adingra is among the substitutes, and he was involved in more goals than any other Ivory Coast player during World Cup qualifying – five in total, with two goals and three assists. He was also one of only two players to feature in every single qualifier for the Elephants. Given that level of influence, it’s perhaps a surprise he hasn’t been given any minutes so far today.

77'

Substitution

Fae makes further changes, with Pepe withdrawn and Oulai sent on in his place.

77'

Substitution

Amid fitness concerns heading into the tournament, Valencia lasts all of 77 minutes and is now replaced by Rodriguez.

77'

Substitution

The cautioned Seko Fofana has been a livewire all day, but his game is done – Nottingham Forest’s Sangare comes on to replace him.

Bonny is sent in over the top – a type of pass we haven’t seen too often today – and it causes real problems. The substitute manages to hook it back into the box, where Pacho hesitates for a moment before recovering just in time to deny Seko Fofana a point‑blank effort.

73'

Yellow Card

Bonny gets on the half‑turn and Porozo takes no chances, hauling the Ivorian striker down on halfway. Options were left and right, and it’s a yellow card the Ecuadorian will happily take.

Ivory Coast get the ball rolling again after that pause to take on fluids and a few final words of advice.

Cue the hydration break – momentum stalling just as it was beginning to pick up. The question now is what kind of messages the coaches deliver in this moment. Will a point be satisfactory?

SAVED! Plata is picked out on the edge of the box from the right-hand side, and he’s given time to assess his options. As the ball is shifted onto his left, he unleashes a fierce strike at Yahia Fofana, stinging the goalkeeper’s gloves. It swerves wickedly in the air, and the 'keeper has to stay sharp to beat it away.

Amad is the one taking on Hincapie now, and once again, the Ecuadorian struggles. The substitute burns him on the outside before drilling a ball toward Bonny rather than into him, and it ricochets out of play. You’re left wondering where that final bit of quality is going to come from in this one.

Ecuador have just lost a bit of that intensity they’d carried for large stretches of this match, and it’s allowed Ivory Coast to settle. The large following of La Tri inside the ground are still fully behind them, though, and they’re starting to make some real noise.

62'

Substitution

Ecuador make a double change, the first of which sees Yeboah – who crashed that wonderful effort off the bar – replaced by Preciado.