Folarin Balogun is boosting his stock to be the U.S. men’s national team go-to No. 9.
Balogun scored the USMNT’s equalizing goal on Friday in a 1-1 home friendly draw with Ecuador. The Monaco forward earned SBI USMNT Man of the Match honors after delivering his seventh international goal.
Balogun almost opened the scoring in the eighth minute, forcing Hernan Galindez to make a good diving save.
Despite being denied in the early going, Balogun didn’t hang his head, playing a key role in the second half.
Malik Tillman’s low pass to a streaking Balogun allowed the 24-year-old to one-time Tillman’s pass off the right post and into the back of the net. It marked his second-straight USMNT cap with a goal to his name.
Balogun played 81 minutes in the match before being replaced by Haji Wright. He registered two shots on target, made two interceptions, and drew one foul.
Balogun edged Tillman, Tim Weah, and Chris Richards for Man of the Match honors.
“He is so hard to track when he uses his speed to get behind,” USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie said about Balogun during his postgame interview with TNT. “He was holding possession very well. It gives a lot of relief for us. He did a really good job tonight.”
What did you think of Balogun’s performance? Do you have him leading the USMNT line at next summer’s FIFA World Cup? Do you see him retaining his starting spot on Tuesday against Australia?
Share your thoughts below.
Wait you had Tim Weah in fir man of the match?
This was a tough game for a midfielder to play well. I don’t think anyone would have voted Tessman, McKennie or Weah for man of the match. But, all three played well – or at least did their jobs. It wasn’t a match that people will say you need to rewatch that. It was a tough professional game . The US Midfield acquitted themselves without being showy – and probably because they didn’t have much chance to do so.
The US attack is always going to slant to the left if Dest is not on the field. Especially tonight with Robinson in the RCB role. Ream and Richards are more capable passing and will progress the ball when Scally, MRob, Blackmon might just recycle it back around. McKennie had a sneaky good 60 minutes popping up in several good moments. Tessmann I thought was pretty invisible for most of the first half but then played well in the second. Weah, looked to be kind of trying to figure out the WB position in Poch’s system, trying to get the feel for where he was supposed to be.
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It was night when everyone looked comfortable with exception of the first 5 minutes as we figured out their high press. Ecuador gave up a 0.28 goals per game in qualifying and we were perhaps unlucky to only score one.