EcuadorvsIvory Coast
ECU 0/CIV 1
Things to say
Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0 at Lincoln Financial Field to open World Cup group play.
01
opener
Ivory Coast nicked it 1-nil over Ecuador at the Linc. Tight game, Ecuador had chances but couldn't find the net. Three points is three points.
02
key player
Agbadou was everywhere at the back — 57 accurate passes and 17 defensive interventions. Quiet shift but he ran that back line.
03
hot take
Ecuador's attack looked toothless. Three shots from Yeboah and not much else — you're not winning a World Cup group like that.
04
deep cut
Galíndez had to make three saves to keep it 1-nil. Without him it's a proper paddling.
05
exit
Anyway — clean sheet for the Ivorians, on to matchday two. Group's wide open now.
The recap
Ivory Coast nicked it 1-0 over Ecuador at the Linc, and honestly it had the look of a grind-it-out World Cup opener where one moment was always going to settle it. Seko Fofana was the busiest man in attack with four shots, while Emmanuel Agbadou was an absolute wall at the back, 57 accurate passes and 17 defensive interventions just mopping everything up.
Ecuador had their looks through John Yeboah and made Galíndez work, but they couldn't find the net and Yahia Fofana barely had to break a sweat for the clean sheet. Three points and a shutout to open the group, you take that every day of the week.