AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Folarin Balogun’s 71st-minute goal offset Ener Valencia’s first-half goal and the United States tied Ecuador 1-1 in a friendly Friday night.
Tim Weah intercepted a clearance and passed it to Tanner Tessman, allowing Balogun to score for the second game in a row and his seventh goal in 20 international appearances. Tessman sent the ball wide to Malik Tillman.
Balogun crossed in front of Joel Ordóñez, and Tillman crossed from inside the six-yard box, deflecting the ball past goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez and into the inside of the near post.
The 16th-ranked Americans have won just one of their last eight games against opponents ranked in the top 25 since March 2024, including a 2-0 win last month against Japan, which ranks second.
“It’s good to have some momentum,” Balogun said. “It’s disappointing that we didn’t win, but I think we were the better team and there were a lot of positives for the next game.”
The United States plays Australia in Commerce City, Colo., on Tuesday, then faces Paraguay and Uruguay next month, then just two friendlies in March before coach Mauricio Pochettino calls his players to pre-World Cup training camp.
The USA had 66% possession and outscored Ecuador 11-8. Galindez dove to evade Balogun’s shot from just outside the penalty area in the 8th minute, and in the 26th minute he hit Richards’ shot against the left post.
“I felt like we were dominating,” midfielder Weston McKennie said. “I want them to be confident. I hope they get some adrenaline from this game and play forward, rotate the ball, be patient with the ball and always try to take risks.”
Pochettino returned to Austin and coached his first game in the United States on October 12 last year. Since he took over, the U.S. has a record of 11 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw.
24th-placed Ecuador, who finished second behind Argentina in the South American World Cup qualifiers, extended their team-record unbeaten streak to 12 games, including seven draws.
La Tri will be in Mexico on Tuesday.
In the 24th minute, Valencia tapped into a through ball from Jordy Alcibar on Chris Richards’ wing, and with two more touches he penetrated the goal and fired a shot past the outstretched right hand of Matt Frees and inside the far post. Valencia, who turns 36 next month, is Ecuador’s goal leader with 48 goals in 101 international games.
Top American player Christian Pulisic did not start due to ankle pain and played in the 73rd minute.
Max Alfsten on the left and Weah on the right started as wing-backs in a 3-4-3 formation. Five days after his birthday, defenseman Tim Ream became the fourth non-goaltender over the age of 38 to play for the United States, joining Ed Murphy in 1969, Gordon Bradley in 1973, and Preki Radosavljevic in 2001. Ream’s backline was joined by Richards and Myles Robinson.
Left-back Anthony Robinson and forward Alex Zendejas did not dress.
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