AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The United States men’s national team (USMNT) was held to a 1-1 draw against Ecuador in an international friendly on Friday evening, as Folarin Balogun’s 71st-minute equalizer canceled out Enner Valencia’s first-half goal. Despite dominating possession and creating more chances, the U.S. was unable to seal a win but still left the field with plenty of positives to carry forward into their next fixtures.
The match, played at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, saw a vibrant and attacking display from the U.S., but they were unable to break down Ecuador’s defense until the second half. Ecuador’s veteran striker Valencia gave the visitors the lead in the 24th minute, but Balogun, continuing his excellent form, struck back for the Americans midway through the second half to level the score.
Balogun Keeps His Scoring Streak Alive
Folarin Balogun’s goal came as a result of a well-worked team move. Tim Weah intercepted a clearance and quickly passed the ball to Tanner Tessmann, who played a wide ball to Malik Tillman. Tillman, in space on the right flank, delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, where Balogun found space in front of Ecuadorian defender Joel Ordóñez. With a quick flick of his boot, Balogun redirected the ball off the inside of the near post and into the back of the net, giving U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese no chance to react.
It was Balogun’s second goal in as many games and his seventh in 20 appearances for the U.S. national team. His recent performances have solidified his reputation as one of the top attacking talents in the squad, and he has become a key player for coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side. After the game, Balogun expressed disappointment in not securing a win, but he was optimistic about the team’s overall performance.
“It’s good to build momentum,” Balogun said. “I’m disappointed we didn’t get the win, but I think we were the better side. There were a lot of positives to take into the next game.”
Ecuador’s Early Advantage
The match got off to an intense start, with both teams pressing high and looking to impose their style of play. Ecuador drew first blood in the 24th minute through their captain, Enner Valencia. The 35-year-old striker, who is Ecuador’s all-time leading goal scorer with 48 goals in 101 international appearances, took full advantage of a deft through pass from midfielder Jordy Alcívar. Valencia controlled the ball expertly, pushing it wide of U.S. defender Chris Richards before taking two more touches to set himself up for a shot.
Valencia’s strike was clinical, sending the ball past Matt Freese’s outstretched right hand and into the far post, giving Ecuador the 1-0 lead. The goal came as a result of some defensive lapses from the U.S., who allowed the Ecuadorian attack too much time and space to create the opportunity.
Despite the setback, the U.S. responded well, creating several chances of their own but finding Ecuador’s goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez in fine form. In the eighth minute, Balogun saw a chance from inside the penalty area, but Galíndez dove low to parry his shot away. Richards also came close in the 26th minute, but his effort was pushed onto the post by the Ecuadorian keeper.
U.S. Dominates Possession but Struggles with Final Pass
Throughout the match, the U.S. controlled much of the possession, finishing with 66% of the ball and outshooting Ecuador 11-8. However, as coach Pochettino noted, the team struggled to be clinical in the final third. The Americans showed plenty of intent going forward but often failed to pick out the decisive pass or finish in key moments.
“We need to be a little bit more clinical in our last pass in the final third,” Pochettino explained. “We had the chances, we had the possession, but the last part of the attack needs to be more precise.”
Despite the frustration of not scoring more goals, the U.S. team was encouraged by their overall play. Weston McKennie, who was instrumental in the midfield, commented on the team’s ability to keep pushing forward despite the challenges.
“I felt like we dominated,” McKennie said. “We just need to take confidence from this game. We were rotating the ball well, being patient, and always trying to be dangerous in our attack.”
Pochettino’s Return to Austin
This match marked coach Mauricio Pochettino’s return to Austin, where he had coached his first game with the U.S. national team exactly one year ago, in October 2024. Since taking over the team, Pochettino has overseen an 11-7-1 record, including a 2-0 victory over Japan last month that ended the team’s seven-game winless streak against top 25 opponents.
Despite the draw, Pochettino remained optimistic about the direction the team is headed, especially given the performance in the second half. His focus remains on fine-tuning the team’s attacking play as they continue to prepare for future World Cup qualifiers and international competitions.
“The team showed a lot of good things tonight,” Pochettino said. “There’s still work to do, but we’ll continue to improve.”
Christian Pulisic’s Limited Role
One notable absentee from the starting lineup was Christian Pulisic, the U.S.’s top player. The Chelsea winger was unavailable for the start due to an ankle injury, though he entered the match in the 73rd minute. Pulisic’s return to the pitch injected fresh energy into the team as they pushed for a late winner, but they were unable to break Ecuador’s resilient defense.
In terms of the lineup, Pochettino made a few adjustments, starting Max Arfsten on the left wing-back and Tim Ream at center-back. Ream, who celebrated his 38th birthday just five days ago, became the fourth outfield player in U.S. history to play past the age of 38. Alongside him, Miles Robinson and Chris Richards formed the rest of the defensive line.
Left-back Antonee Robinson, still recovering from knee surgery, did not dress for the match, while forward Alex Zendejas was absent due to a knee injury.
Looking Ahead: Australia and the Road to the World Cup
Next, the U.S. faces Australia on Tuesday in Commerce City, Colorado, before continuing their international schedule with matches against Paraguay and Uruguay next month. Following those fixtures, Pochettino’s team will prepare for their pre-World Cup training camp in March 2026.
Despite the draw, there were many positive takeaways for the U.S., particularly in their ability to dominate possession and create chances. As the team continues to build momentum ahead of the World Cup, the performance against Ecuador will serve as a valuable stepping stone in their journey.
