The United States team rescued a vibrant 1-1 draw with the Ecuador team in a tough duel on the FIFA Date in October held at the Q2 Stadium in Austin (Texas).
The endless striker Enner Valencia put the Ecuadorian “Tricolor” ahead in the first half with a great goal in the 24th minute, but a mistake in the ball’s release phase in the 70th minute led to the 1-1 goal for the “Stars and Stripes” team, the work of New York striker Folarin Balogun.
In this way, Ecuador extended its unbeaten streak against the United States to twelve in a friendly preparation match for the 2026 World Cup to be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Ecuadorian players, led by Argentine coach Sebastián Beccacece, already qualified for the World Cup, suffered from the pushes of the American team, but were able to count on an extraordinary performance by goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez.
The Huracán goalkeeper opened his big day with a difficult save against Balogun, who tried with a low cross shot and saw the goalkeeper send it to the corner.
The United States started better, but Ecuador showed its strength. In the 24th minute, he recovered the ball in his defensive three-quarter line and, with two passes, took the ball from the boots of John Yeboah to those of the veteran Enner Valencia located in the middle of the three-piece defense lined up by the US coach, also Argentine Mauricio Pochettino.
Enner broke free with magnificent control, outpaced defender Chris Richards, entered the local area and struck goalkeeper Matt Freese with a perfect low cross shot that put “La Tri” ahead.
A festival of saves by Galíndez then began, decisive in sending Beccacece’s men up 1-0 at half-time.
He signed a true miracle against Richards, who finished powerfully inside the area in an action that originated from a corner kick and who was surprised by the Ecuadorian goalkeeper’s reflexes.
Shortly after, Galíndez returned to protect the goal with an acrobatic save after a cross that was going to end up in the back of the net after a double deviation by the Ecuadorian defense.
Already in the 70th minute, faced with high pressure from the US, the Ecuadorian team saw its chances of victory disappear. Defender Willian Pacho failed to get the ball out and the American team recovered it in a three-quarter line.
Immediately, after a good collective maneuver on the right, Malik Tilmann entered the area and put in the low cross that Balogun easily sent to the back of the net to declare the final 1-1 for Pochettino’s team.
Thus, the United States avoided defeat at home, although it has only won one of its last four games, something that it is obliged to correct by taking advantage of these preparation matches for the FIFA Date.
In its next challenge, the US team will face Australia (already qualified for the World Cup), on Tuesday, October 14, starting at 9 pm ET, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, in Commerce City, Colorado. (TV: Universo).
For its part, the Ecuadorian “Tricolor” will travel to the city of Guadalajara to face the host team of Mexico, on Tuesday, October 14, from 10:30 pm ET, at the Akron Stadium. (TV: TUDN).
This is how they aligned
– United States (1): Matt Freese; Miles Robinson (Alex Freeman, 63′), Chris Richards, Tim Ream (Capt.) (Mark McKenzie, 73′); Tim Weah (Christian Pulisic, 73′), Tanner Tessmann, Aidan Morris (Cristian Roldan, 73′), Max Arfsten; Weston McKennie (Diego Luna, 63′), Folarin Balogun (Haji Wright, 81′), Malik Tillman.
– Unused substitutes: Matt Turner, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Patrick Agyemang, Brenden Aaronson, James Sands, Patrick Schulte, Chris Brady.
– Coach: Mauricio Pochettino (Argentine).
– Ecuador (1): Hernán Galindez; Pervis Estupiñán (Yaimar Medina, 40′), Willian Pacho, Joel Ordóñez, Alan Franco (Capt.); Pedro Vite, Jordy Alcivar (Denil Castillo, 90′), Ángelo Preciado; Kendry Páez (Kevin Rodríguez, 45′), John Yeboah (Nilson Angulo, 45′); Enner Valencia (Leonardo Campana, 74′).
– Unused substitutes: Félix Torres, Jhoanner Chávez, Cristian Ramírez, Moisés Ramírez, John Mercado, Gonzalo Valle, Patrik Mercado, Darwin Guagua, Bryan Ramírez.
– Coach: Sebastián Beccacece (Argentine).
– Goals: 0-1, m.24: Valencia. 1-1, m.71: Balogun.
– Referee: Filip Dujic (Canadian). He admonished Richards (m.18) and Robinson (m.40), from the USA, and Medina (m.83) and Pacho (m.90), from Ecuador.
– Incidents: Friendly match of the FIFA Date played at the Q2 Stadium in Austin (Texas).
