Nilson Angulo walked into MetLife Stadium on June 25 needing to prove something. He walked out with the Man of the Match award and a goal that might have saved Ecuador’s entire World Cup campaign.
The 23-year-old winger fired a right-footed strike from outside the box to score Ecuador’s first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leveling the match against Germany in what was effectively a must-win scenario for La Tri.
The goal that broke the drought
Ecuador had entered their final Group E match having scored exactly zero goals in the tournament. A loss to Ivory Coast and a goalless draw with Curaçao had left them staring at an early exit, and the math was simple: produce something against Germany or go home.
Who is Nilson Angulo?
