Beccacece climbs into stands to embrace family after Ecuador stun Germany 2-1 at World Cup

Sebastian Beccacece hauled himself into the front row of the stands at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Thursday, embracing his family and kissing his wife, after Ecuador’s 2-1 victory over four-time world champions Germany sent them through to the World Cup round of 32.

The result was the unlikeliest of escapes for a side that had lost their Group E opener to Ivory Coast and could only draw 0-0 with Curacao. Qualification came as one of the eight best third-placed teams, and it arrived in the most dramatic fashion possible.

Ecuador fell behind to Leroy Sané’s opener, a goal that arrived despite a high boot from Aleksandar Pavlovic in the build-up. Nilson Angulo equalised for the underdogs before Gonzalo Plata snatched a second-half winner to complete the upset.

Germany still progressed as Group E winners, having also beaten Curaçao and Ivory Coast — the latter qualifying in second place — but they were made to share the knockouts with a jubilant Ecuador.

The drama surrounding Beccacece was heightened by a declaration he had made just 24 hours earlier: the 45-year-old Argentine had publicly stated he would resign as Ecuador head coach if his team failed to advance from the group stage. That promise made Thursday’s celebrations all the more charged.

Ecuador’s group campaign had looked in serious trouble after Amad Diallo’s 90th-minute winner handed Ivory Coast a victory in the opening fixture, and the goalless draw against Curaçao — widely regarded as the tournament’s biggest underdogs — only deepened the concern. Victory over Germany, then, represented a complete reversal of fortune.

In the round of 32, Ecuador could face Thomas Tuchel’s England, should England top Group L.