BENNI MCCARTHY claimed a World Cup clash looked like both teams had “already agreed on the result” in a remarkable half-time statement.

The former Manchester United coach, on punditry duty for BBC, was left unimpressed with both Ecuador and the Ivory Coast after 45 minutes with the score at 0-0.

He believed that the two teams were playing within themselves to try not to lose in Philadelphia with their tournament fate at stake.

Both countries watched Germany destroy Curacao 7-1 earlier in the day – after a shock equaliser from the minnows.

It added pressure to this clash with any winner the immediate favourite to qualify for the next round.

And McCarthy thought that it meant there was a serious lack of intent on show.

He said: “It looks like the German game, they took all the goals and these two are just playing.

“[It’s like they said] Let’s keep it safe. We can both qualify. Let’s get a point each and then whatever happens against Germany, we both thrash Curacao and then that’s where we pick up our points.

“Germany goes through top of the group. That’s what it looks like. They’ve already agreed on the result.”

South African McCarthy, who played 80 times for his country – including at two World Cups in 1998 and 2002 – is currently boss of Kenya.

He spent two years at United as an attacking coach and did not appear to be suggesting any foul play or questioning the integrity of the fixture.

Instead, the ex-Prem striker seemed to be referencing the new format which allows eight of 12 third place teams in the group stages to progress to the knockouts, and suggesting it had given the teams no incentive to take risks.

With a clear worst nation in Curacao and Germany the overwhelming strongest, a draw would keep things alive heading into the second set of games.

Despite McCarthy’s surprise comments, Ecuador had come close to making a breakthrough, hitting the woodwork twice.

John Yeboah cut in from the right and onto his left foot, sending one shot flying narrowly over and then the next rattling against the bar.

Pedro Vite also hit the bar after being slipped through by Alan Minda.

Ivory Coast rallied after the break with a series of close-range shots and scrambles in the box.

And any idea that the teams had agreed on the result went out of the window when the very man McCarthy had been calling for the Ivory Coast to bring on, Amad Diallo, struck a 90th-minute winner.

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