Central Plains FFA Chapter

06/25 16:58 CDT Ecuador advances to World Cup knockout rounds, beats Germany 2-1 on Plata's 77th-minute goal Ecuador advances to World Cup knockout rounds, beats Germany 2-1 on Plata's 77th-minute goal By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) --- Gonzalo Plata poked the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute, and Ecuador advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup by rallying for a 2-1 win over Germany on Thursday. Germany, which clinched first place in Group E with victories in its first two games, went ahead on Leroy San's second-minute goal. Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador's first goal of the tournament in the ninth minute. Plata scored after a corner kick was nodded on by Kevin Rodrguez. Neuer, the 40-year-old Germany goalkeeper who came out of international retirement for the World Cup, was about the grasp the ball when Plata raised his left foot and with a toe put the ball into the net. Ecuador finished third in the group with four points and advanced past the group stage for the second time, the first since a round of 16 game in 2002. ___ See more of AP's World Cup coverage here