Amad came off the bench to score a last-minute winner, giving Ivory Coast a perfect start to their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador. The Manchester United star was initially left on the bench for the entertaining clash at Philadelphia Stadium, with Yan Diomande starting on the right wing.
Second-Half Introduction
Nine minutes into the second half, Amad replaced Bazoumana Toure. He quickly demonstrated to coach Emerse Fae why he deserves a starting spot. Earlier, Amad watched as Ecuador twice hit the crossbar in the first half and Enner Valencia struck the post early in the second half.
Dramatic Finish
Just as it seemed both teams would settle for a draw, Amad broke the deadlock in the 90th minute. The United winger steered the ball inside the post from the edge of the box after a strong run and cross from Wilfried Singo.
Speaking after the match, Amad said: "We needed that. We came here to make history. We still have two more matches ahead, and we need to approach them with the same mentality and try to win them. We had to stay focused. We knew it would be difficult because Ecuadorian players are physically strong. They caused us problems, but we stayed composed."
Team-Mate's Reaction
Diomande added: "We fought hard, we succeeded, and we're all delighted. It's always a pleasure to represent your country. It's tough and stressful because we represent nearly 33 million people. We're playing for our families, friends, and loved ones. In this competition, we all want to give our all. We want to win every match and make our mark on history."
Opponent's Perspective
Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece reflected: "In the second half, we made necessary adjustments and were in control enough to secure at least a draw. We put in tremendous effort against a strong opponent. The result wasn't what we wanted, but it's just the beginning, and we must keep working."
