World Cup 2026: Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast - Deniz Undav scores 94th-minute winner in Group E clash

Substitute Undav clinically dispatched the winner from Felix Nmecha's pass having earlier cancelled out Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessie's opener by volleying in a Nadiem Amiri cross.

Germany appeared to be heading for a shock defeat before the former Brighton striker's 60th-minute introduction but his goals, which put him on nine in 11 games for his country, mean they join USA and Mexico in reaching the knockouts with a game to spare.

Ivory Coast, winners against Ecuador in their opener, were the better side in the first half, inspired by Liverpool target Yan Diomande, who helped set up Kessie's goal with a burst of pace and low cross, but the defeat means they still have work to do to qualify.

10: SAVE! Yahia Fofana makes a good save to stop Kai Havertz's header

22: GOAL RULED OUT! Aleksandar Pavlovic forces a corner over the line but is penalised for a foul on the goalkeeper

30: GOAL! Diomande's wicked low cross allows Kessie to score

39: GOAL RULED OUT! Germany denied again after Havertz's goal is chalked off for a foul by Jamal Musiala

60: Germany introduce Undav as part of a triple change

68: GOAL! Undav volleys in Amiri's excellent centre to level it up

90+4: GOAL! Undav dispatches the winner to spark wild Germany celebrations

In pictures: Undav's match-winning moment

Analysis: Undav an ace up Germany's sleeve?

Deniz Undav did not make much of a mark in the Premier League, scoring a modest total of five goals in 22 appearances for Brighton during the 2022/23 season. But his match-winning double against Ivory Coast follows a goal and two assists against Curacao.

The 29-year-old came into the tournament on the back of an impressive campaign for Stuttgart which featured 25 goals in 46 games in all competitions and his international scoring record is even more impressive, especially as he usually features from the bench.

He is a late bloomer. He only made his senior international debut two years ago at the age of 27. But in a squad which features more illustrious names, he is showing himself to be Germany's real difference-maker with an early push for the Golden Boot.

Gary Neville told ITV : "In the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half, Ivory Coast should have killed the game off.

"But it's just what Germany do. They've ruined my life on multiple occasions.

"You've got to hand it to Germany there. They were struggling in parts of that match.

"They stuck at it, persistence, resilience and they got there in the end. It's so Germany."