Man Utd forward Amad started on the bench for the Ivory Coast in their World Cup game against Ecuador on Sunday.
Amad reacted after his winning goal.(Image: La Nouvelle Chaîne Ivoirienne)
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Manchester United winger Amad felt "a lot of emotions" after scoring a late winner for the Ivory Coast against Ecuador. Amad scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner to secure a win for his nation at the World Cup.
The 23-year-old was named on the bench and was introduced to the game in the 53rd minute. Ecuador hit the woodwork three times, and it looked like the points would be shared, but Amad scored a stunning goal.
Amad found the net from the edge of the box with a first-time finish with his left foot, prompting jubilant scenes from the Ivory Coast players.
Amad contributed just two goals and four assists for United in all competitions last season, but he scored for the Ivory Coast in a warm-up friendly against France and notched again in their opening World Cup clash.
"We needed that," Amad said after the win. "We came here to make history. This is the first competition for each of us, and we have been super motivated since the match against France. We were all mentally prepared.
"We're very, very happy with this victory. It doesn't stop there, but in the next two matches, we have to have the same mentality to try to win. We knew it was going to be a difficult match because we know the Ecuador players, they are physically strong. We had to try to impose our game.
"They made it difficult for us, of course, but we tried to stay clear-headed, stay focused, and in the end, we won the three points."
When asked how he felt after scoring the winner, Amad responded: "It's a lot of emotions, first match at the World Cup and my first goal, but that's not my goal, that's to help the team and help the group move forward.
"Everyone wants to play, we are a team. The coach can make five substitutions, but not everyone can come on. Everyone is super ready."
At the beginning of May, Michael Carrick defended Amad's form for United, saying: "I actually think he's playing well. I think, yeah, numbers in terms of goals and assists.... I think there's an awful lot more in the game, playing in a winning team as he has, to worry about numbers.
"I think he gives the team so much. He's got so much talent, he's got so much ability, but his work ethic and his attitude is fantastic as well. He has played different roles at times. I'm a big fan of Amad.
"I think he was unlucky and unfortunate that we had to change things tactically the other night and that was purely on that, why he came off. But yeah, I think it's given the team an awful lot.
"And it's the underbelly of what goes into the performance, not always what the headline grabs that actually provide you... or what proved to be as a team that's going to be successful. Amad's part of it."