AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Folarin Balogun scored in the 71st minute, tying Enner Valencia’s first-half goal, and the United States tied with Ecuador 1-1 in a friendly match on Friday night.
Balogun scored for the second match in a row, his seventh goal in 20 international matches, after Tim Weah intercepted the clearance and passed it to Tanner Theisman, who sent the ball away from Malik Tillman.
Tillman crossed to Balogun, who got in front of Joel Ordonez and from just inside the 6-yard box redirected the ball inside the near post.
The 16th-placed Americans have maintained one win in their last nine matches against top 25 opponents since March 2024.2-0 last month over Japan’s mostly second-string lineup.
“It’s good to build momentum,” Balogun said. He added: “I’m disappointed not to win, but I think we were the better team and there were a lot of positives to take into the next match.”
The United States will play Australia on Tuesday in Commerce City, Colorado, then face Paraguay and Uruguay next month, and then will play only two friendly matches in March before coach Mauricio Pochettino summons the players to his training camp before the World Cup.
The Americans had 66% possession and beat Ecuador 11-8.
“We need to be more effective with the final pass in the final third,” Pochettino said.
Hernan Galindez raced to parry Balogun’s shot from inside the penalty area in the eighth minute and pushed Richards’ shot off the post in the 26th minute.
“I felt like we were in control,” midfielder Weston McKennie said. “I hope we can be confident. I hope we get the adrenaline from this game, playing forward, rotating the ball, being patient with the ball, and always trying to be dangerous.”
Pochettino returned to Austin, where he wasHe coached his first match in the United States on October 12 of last year. The Americans are 11-7-1 since he took office.
24th-placed Ecuador, who finished second behind Argentina in South American World Cup qualifiers, extended their unbeaten record to 12 matches, including seven draws.
No see in Mexico on Tuesday.
Valencia scored in the 24th minute when he latched onto a through ball from Jordi Alcivar wide of Chris Richards, broke through with two more touches and fired past Matt Freese’s outstretched right hand and inside the far post. Valencia, who turns 36 next month, is Ecuador’s top goalscorer with 48 goals in 101 international matches.
Christian Pulisic, the best American player, did not start due to an ankle injury and entered in the 73rd minute.
Max Arvesten on the left and Weah on the right started as full-backs. Five days after his birthday, defender Tim Ream became the fourth non-goalkeeper to play for the United States aged 38 or over after Ed Murphy in 1969, Gordon Bradley in 1973, and Breki Radosavljevic in 2001. He joined Ream Richards and Miles Robinson in the back line.
Left-back Anthony RobinsonHe is still getting back into shape after knee surgery in MayHe didn’t wear it. Pochettino said striker Alex Zendejas also did not dress and will return to Mexico America due to a knee injury.
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