A World Cup sleeper awoke just in time to keep its dream alive.

After failing to score in its first two World Cup matches, then surrendering a goal two minutes into Thursday’s match against Group E winner Germany, Ecuador pulled off a stunning comeback to upset the European power and advance to the knockout stage for the first time in 20 years, following a 2-1 win at a sold-out MetLife Stadium.

Ecuador arrived in the United States as a trendy dark horse, riding a 19-game unbeaten streak that dated back to Sept. 2024, featuring wins over Argentina and Colombia, as well as draws with Brazil, the Netherlands, the U.S., Mexico and Uruguay.

But in a matchup against the team that led all nations with nine goals and a plus-seven goal differential, Ecuador seemed to be handed a death sentence after allowing an early goal to Leroy Sane.

The defensive-minded squad — which averaged less than one goal per match in 18 qualifying contests  — needed two goals after failing to score in a tournament-opening loss to Ivory Coast, then becoming the first team in World Cup history to be held without a goal despite putting at least 15 shots on goal in a scoreless draw against Curacao.

Then, Gonzalo Plata became a national hero, volleying home the winning goal in the 77th minute.

Ecuador (1-1-1) will not learn its next opponent until group play is completed. 

Germany (2-1-0) — which previously earned a blowout win over Curacao and a thrilling comeback against Ivory Coast — will return to the knockout stage for the first time since winning the World Cup in 2014, playing Monday in Boston in the Round of 32.