PHILADELPHIA — In his first World Cup match, 19-year-old Yan Diomande announced himself to the world, and so did his youthful Ivory Coast side in a 1-0 victory over Ecuador to open their World Cup campaign on Sunday.
The RB Leipzig wide man and reigning Bundesliga Rookie of the Season was Man of the Match in the Group E encounter, no small feat against an opponent that entered with 19 matches unbeaten, including 11 in the gauntlet of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.
“We know all about Yan Diomande,” said his manager Emerse Fae. “He’s an impactful player. He’s hard to play for opponents. He delivered an excellent match.”
While Diomande’s brilliant service in the first half and dribbling in the second didn’t lead to the decisive goal — even after Amad Diallo’s historic 90th-minute winner — it was hard not to think about what could be ahead for a player valued at about $105 million, according to the website Transfermarkt.
“He’s a great striker and his added value is very clear,” said fellow Ivorian forward Elye Wahi. “We’re very happy for the (award) he notched up.”
Despite appearing only twice in World Cup qualifying for “Les Elephants,” Fae entrusted Diomande with a start on the right flank in the Ivory Coast’s first World Cup match since 2014 and first World Cup victory against South American opposition.
It quickly became clear why, as he terrorized Ecuador’s back line and Arsenal fullback Piero Hincapie in particular over the opening 45 minutes.
Diomande’s best sequence in that role came on 35 minutes, when he picked up a ball at midfield, quickly rounded Hincapie and sent in a cross that Nicolas Pepe couldn’t finish after attempting a second touch to get the ball on his favored left boot.
After switching to the left following Diallo’s 56th-minute insertion, he tried to solve Ecuador’s stubborn rear guard himself.
In the 58th minute, he somehow split John Yeboah, Alan Franco and Moises Caicedo to enter the left side of the penalty area before firing high.
He nearly achieved the feat again in the late stages, before the Ivorians finally took advantage of the attention he commanded, with Wilfried Singo surging up the opposite flank to send in a low cross and Diallo dispatching a clinical finish.
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
