Deniz Undav's 94th-minute goal clinched a come-from-behind 2-1 victory for Germany against Ivory Coast in Group E to send them into the World Cup knockout stages.
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.
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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.
The key moments from Toronto...
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.
His impact should come as no surprise.
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.
Neville: This is what Germany do
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."
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.
As it happened | Teams | Stats | Group E guide
World Cup day-by-day schedule | Latest: World Cup
Follow our World Cup coverage in the Sky Sports App
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.
The key moments from Toronto...
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.
His impact should come as no surprise.
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.
Neville: This is what Germany do
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."
