Ecuador coach Beccacece hurt by 'unfair' loss as unbeaten streak ends

Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to grant the Ivorians all three points during their Group E encounter, after Ecuador had controlled long periods of the match, struck the woodwork on three occasions and missed several clear chances.

"It is painful because it was an unjust defeat," Beccacece said to journalists.

"I believe there are compelling reasons that clearly demonstrate the team performed exceptionally well, created the best opportunities and could have secured victory, but due to a single detail at the end, we depart with nothing."

Ecuador came to the competition having not lost since September 2024 and possessing one of the finest defensive records in world football, but they were made to pay for failing to convert their first half dominance into goals.

"When a team is clearly better and fails to take its opportunities, it allows the opposition to believe they remain in the contest," Beccacece stated.

"I never believed they merited victory, but football is not about what you merit. It is about converting your opportunities."

The Argentinian manager was also displeased with a second half infringement by Ivory Coast defender Guela Doue.

"We all witnessed what was obviously a second yellow card and a dismissal," Beccacece said. "Those are matters beyond our control. They are painful, but we must accept them."

Response key for El Tri

Beccacece stressed that Ecuador's prospects of advancing to the knockout rounds were still entirely within their control ahead of games against Curacao and Germany.

"When you do not begin as you had hoped, anxiety sets in," he said.

"But now we require greater conviction than ever, greater belief than ever, greater confidence than ever."

The manager commended Ecuador's fans, who transformed Philadelphia into a sea of yellow during the evening.

"What causes me the most pain and saddens me the most is the inability to offer something in return to the people," he said.

"When you do sufficient to secure victory, given the atmosphere that was generated here, yet you fail to achieve it, it is painful."