The U.S. men’s national team needed a second-half comeback to tie CONMEBOL opponents Ecuador on Friday night in Austin, Texas.
Folarin Balogun’s second-half equalizer helped Mauricio Pochettino’s side fight back to tie Ecuador 1-1 at Q2 Stadium. Enner Valencia’s first-half finish propelled La Tri in front before halftime, but an improved performance from the hosts led to a shared result for both teams.
The USMNT had the first positive offensive look in the eighth minute with Balogun testing Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez.
Ecuador’s talisman Valencia broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, netting his 48th international goal. John Yeboah played Valencia upfield with a pass before the Pachuca forward edged past Chris Richards and scored.
Richards almost made amends two minutes after the restart, redirecting Malik Tillman’s cross towards the bottom-right corner. However, Galindez dove to his left and pushed Richards’ shot off the post.
A fiesty second half saw the USMNT begin to up their pressure, which eventually led to the equalizing goal. Tanner Tessmann’s through ball pass to Tillman inside the Ecuador box led to Tillman hitting Balogun in stride for a one-time finish off of the right post.
It marked Balogun’s seventh international goal and his second-consecutive goalscoring performance.
Christian Pulisic, Haji Wright, and Cristian Roldan all entered the match with the USMNT fighting for a winning goal, but Ecuador’s stubborn backline held firm to hang on for a draw.
The USMNT will close their two-match October window on Tuesday against Australia.
Balogun solidified his spot as the starting num 9. Pulisic and Tillman on each side would be nice. I wished Mckennie and Morris had of switched positions. Mckennie would have been better as a CM next to Tessman.
The game last night was interesting. Ecuador’s athleticism and aggressive style put most of the play in the first half within 10 yards of either side of the midfield line. Both teams – for the most part – were trying to pass their way through a very crowded and – using the term again – aggressive midfield.
The USMNT – even without Pulisic and Adams – were insistent on trying to control the ball and pass through the close marking. And, for the most part, did a good job. But, any real efforts to break through the midfield lines were individual and mainly on the part of Balo who played a very good game.
Ecuador’s organized press also put a lot of pressure on our defenders and Freeze when we tried to build out of the back. There were a couple close calls in the first half, one in particular when Freeze kept his composure and did a quick toe poke to the right to get out of trouble.
That style of game puts the burden on individual play to break through the midfield press. Balo did well for the US and was by far our best player in the first half. I thought Ecuador’s goal was just a good, solid, individual play by old-man Enner Valencia. Robinson could have done better – and I think he showed his frustration with himself – but it was a good move and a good shot that gave Freeze no chance to save.
The individual players of the US met the challenge from a pretty good South American team. I think this was – for the most part – the line up that most USMNT fans thought was the best US team. Adams, Jedi & Pulisic are considered a step up, but I thought this game showed some depth at a high level so that if those fragile 3 (or others) can’t play 90 each game, maybe we aren’t in a panic in a knock-out game next summer.
That was Richards on the cover not Robinson. If that was Robinson instead of Richards that goal doesn’t happen. Why I say that is because Robinson has better closing speed then Richards does. Robinsons speed would have pushed Valencia more wide.
If you are talking Jedi Robinson, then he would be higher up on the field. If not, I don’t think Robinson is as fast as before his injury a couple of years ago.
apologies – we have many R-name defenders. But thank you all for immediately pointing out and mocking my error.
You are correct – it was Richards. I can see the big hair and moustache pounding the field after allowing valencia score.
imo the US dominated proceedings, and the stats reflect that. We were unlucky to give up the goal, and I don’t know what Richards was doing on that play. But, credit to the boys for fighting back to get the draw, anything less would have been cruel
There is a reason Inter Milan were heavily weighing up an offer for Tessman, and now we are seeing why. Won’t be surprised to see him move to a bigger team in the summer.
good second half, unlucky not to get the win. the first half selections again disappointed imo, looked like a disjointed group and some of the players were noticeably frustrated, like Tillman, who Poch has chosen to be the 10. McKennie played creatively in a new role for him on this team, Weah looked like a player looking over his shoulder afraid to make a mistake. MRob was in some really weird spots for him up the field and all over, not to good effect. If you’ve watched Ecuador, they play a counterattacking style with Enner, same as it ever was, they like you to have the ball and cede possession on purpose.
The fight back was fun to watch, the subs did their job, and the play became more consistent as the game wore on and the US took control. Luna is imperfect in there but he stirs the pot and is playing with a ton of confidence right now. Balo scored but go back and watch the second half, until his goal almost invisible but he did very well on the goal obviously and he’s the #1 until he cools.
Freese saved the game and will need to be that guy, he was my MOTM hands down, because I just don’t see us scoring multiple goals consistently but 1-0 and 1-1 and 0-0 and all those scores seem more real.
Beach,
On first watch my thought on Balo was in the first half Ecuador played higher leaving space in behind. The Balo led attack earned 7 corners in the first half as we consistently got the ball behind the defense and they had to play it out or deflect it over the line. 2nd half they sat back much more instead of playing that higher point of confrontation they were content to defend in the final third as a group. This didn’t give Balo the space he had in the first half to use his speed.
yes, and even in the 1st half they backed off some I thought, not right after scoring. JR, when teams do that, Balo tends to not be as effective overall, agree? shows his quality on the goal to still be able in the moment, why so important
Beach,
I think when teams “bunker” Balo still has quality in his movement but his teammates don’t often play him in because the margins are so much smaller. By the time the guy with ball notices it’s too late and window has closed. I thought Haji was good to in his limit minutes too.
Haji looked good, could have scored, better against the bunker too imo
I thought Weah looked okay, not just a one trick pony blazing down the wing, but after watching a few post games I guess I’m in the minority.
And the feedback on Weston is literally all over the place
yep, I say trust your own eyes Bac, you have good ones over the years. Wes created the opportunities in the first half, sprang Balo, tracked back well, new role. Folks talking shit probably don’t even know that part, lol. I liked Weah’s game, I like him overall and always have, he just seemed different in his demeanor than usual to me, idk, but he’s usually out there looking to impose his will big time, which I love, saw it maybe once last night? maybe twice, can’t remember, but more conservative just to put it in a word, maybe that’s what Poch asked for, idk, with Arfsten out there basically playing as a winger
Watching Deuce on MIB is always good, he tries not to badmouth anyone but he’s easy to understand if you read between the lines.
Seemed to me he wanted to see Weston imposing his will more, but acknowledged he was in a different position. The CBS guys with Charlie Davies were pretty positive but all over the place with their ratings compared to others. Same thing with reading the player ratings online. Luna seemed more comfortable in that spot for about 15 minutes, better movement off the ball.
Overall I’ll say one thing, I agree with how Poch said we played like were trying to play.
Only thing I’m unsure of is how to rate Tessman and Morris, and I’m curious what that setup looks like with Adams and a soon to be player to be named later…
@Bac, good stuff, thanks for the recap, I do not watch or read that stuff
impose your will in your first callup in 7 months in a new role?? I mean, ok but maybe that expectation was a little high, lol? even so, he delivered imo, he’s a unique playmaker in our midfield
on Tessman and Morris, what’s not to like, hard workers, good passers, tough and down for the cause, not flashy but that’s not the role. I think they could have done better on some of Ecuador’s breakouts but they did well on many of them, and they’re tough to play against in those situations
who is this player to be named man?? I’m guessing you mean Musah? or Johnny?
Considering the context of the game…best coached and played game of the Pochettino era.
No Pulisic, no Jedi, no Dest, no Adams. A team that kept Argentina off the scoreboard while only giving up 5 goals in all of South American qualifying.
Well done. They played fast, hard and with purpose. Passing was on point, there were interesting rotations that the players seemed to be on the same page with. They made the keeper work.
After all the fuming I’ve done…this game has shown me something to be excited about again. The team has depth and options – who will in the midfield? Who cares, the back ups will be close as good! Who will back up Dest and Jedi? There are very serviceable options behind them.
The worry remains who is playing with Richards and is Freese good enough for WC
Not too shabby, I didn’t know until pregame how solid Ecuadors defense was throughout qualifying.
Balogan was a handful, and loved his workmates.
Wears experience playing a different position with his clubs has helped his game, his touch in tight spaces has improved.
HOPE Miles keeps getting back to form from a few years ago
Tillman can really look dangerous at times, I think he needs to amp up the intensity just a tad with more consistency and he’d be a difference maker
Really liked Lunas movement off the ball,
I don’t know what to think of the 2 cmids, curious about the thoughts here.
And lastly a positive for Poch
Will be real interesting with Jedi, Dest, and even Musah in this formation
Tessman was really good. His composure on the ball and his movement and passing is top notch.
Morris is a poor man’s Adams.
Tessmann’s always been good on the ball and really good at distribution. What I was watching last night was his defensive solidity and how well he and Morris were syncing up and I did see a couple of mistakes but it was much cleaner than it’s been in the past. Tessman’s definitely showing a lot of confidence.
Morris showed really well too. I actually think we could see them both in the Prem or B1 in the next year or so; they’re definitely getting to that level.
I’m game! who will be omitted in your opinion, which hierarchy folks? Adams, Weah, McKennie, Scalley (doesn’t really count, he’s never been penciled in), Dest, just throwing some names out there. Gio doesn’t count because barring some miracle, he’s already out. So who you got at this point man?
I thought Tillman created space pretty well.
Overall good performance.
Keep that consistency going against Australia.
thought he grew as the game wore on as early the physicality and speed had him out of sorts seemed to me and his defensive presence we had seen last window wasn’t really there. Poch stuck with him, thought that paid dividends, and Malikmgot clocked right at the edge of the area, no call, I was watching Andres and the Spanish channel and they all clearly had it as a foul. he was also in the middle of Weah’s lone foray into dangerous territory. Consistency throughout the game the next step up for him imho, like reading what they’re doing to you quicker to counter better, but he did do it too
Dunseth had it as a clear foul too. Originally said it was a penalty but on review said probably outside the box. I thought the Canadian ref was favoring Ecuador all night. Giving them warning after warning but giving US immediate cards. Stopping play immediately when they’d go down but playing on when Tessmann went down. Their goal came off a turnover when he stopped a US advance because Ecuador player didn’t get up. So he stopped play and brought the ball back to our half. The guy clearly rolled his ankle why are you stopping play. Dujic is a decent enough ref he just doesn’t have much international experience. Problem is he’ll always be the “however” guy to hardcore fans from his VAR explanation in MLS. When I saw he was the ref, I was confused because I always thought he was American.
@JR, agreed. idk, but sometimes I just think the emotional reality of things internationally can, how can I say this, influence one to see things another way whether intentionally or not, just saying it seems to be a fact
You know the old saying that a tie is like kissing your sister. This tie was like kissing a very sexy cousin. Still not great, but close.
LOL. That’s pretty apt.
You can still see the progress. The main thing I’ve been noticing about what Poch has been doing is, he’s been obliterating the hierarchy. Nobody feels comfortable, and they’re all aware that if they don’t earn their spot, stay hungry, and perform, Poch will shrug and go another direction. And not only has he turned up a pile of new guys who can help us, all of a sudden the “stars” are showing some fight and urgency again because they are now very aware of the guys in their rear-view mirror. Actually some of the old guard are even chasing at the moment. There’s going to be some surprising omissions from the World Cup roster; you can see that coming a mile away.
It appears our depth may have passed 23 guys who can contribute at this level. That’d be different.
Hahaha…step cousin maybe?
Despite missing a few key players, you have to appreciate the quality of play by the US against a strong opponent in Ecuador. The US by most any measure were the better team in this game. The passing and tactics were sharp, even compared to the game against Japan. In addition, a few players made the roster competition more interesting.
– Balogen has solidified his position at the top of the striker depth chart. He put in a lot of work as a single striker, and was very effective.
– Morris and Tessman both showed well, and have made the competition for MF more interesting.
– M Robinson gets the start over McKenzie and CCV in a back 3, and also acquitted himself well.
– Tillman to me is more effective as AM in a 5-4-1. He cannot create space as effectively as Reyna might, but appears to be linking well with another MF like McKennie or Pulisic.
MRobinson did ok as a LCB, but Freeman did much better as a hybrid LCB. Freeman has much better forward game than Milles. I wouldn’t be surprised if Freeman ends up taking his place as a starting LCB.