Balogun's second-half goal gives US a 1-1 tie against Ecuador in friendly

Audio By Carbonatix

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Folarin Balogun scored in the 71st minute, offsetting Enner Valencia's first-half goal, and the United States tied Ecuador 1-1 in a friendly on Friday night.

Balogun scored for the second straight game, his seventh goal in 20 international appearances, after Tim Weah intercepted a clearance and passed to Tanner Tessmann, who sent the ball wide to Malik Tillman.

Tillman crossed to Balogun, who got in front of Joel Ordóñez and from just inside the 6-yard box redirected the ball in off the inside of the near post.

The 16th-ranked Americans remained with one win in their last nine games against top 25 opponents since March 2024, 2-0 last month over a mostly second-string Japan roster.

“It’s good to build momentum,” Balogun said. “Disappointed to not get the win but I think we was the better side and there was a lot of positives to take into the next game.”

The U.S. plays Australia on Tuesday at Commerce City, Colorado, and faces Paraguay and Uruguay next month, then has only a pair of March friendlies before coach Mauricio Pochettino calls in players for his pre-World Cup training camp.

The Americans had 66% possession and outshot Ecuador 11-8.

“We need to be a little bit more clinical in our last pass in the last third,” Pochettino said.

Hernán Galíndez dived to parry Balogun’s shot from just inside the penalty area in the eighth minute and pushed Richards’ shot off a post in the 26th.

“I felt like we dominated,” midfielder Weston McKennie said. “I hope we take confidence. I hope we take the adrenaline from this game, playing forward, rotating the ball, having patience with the ball, and just always trying to be dangerous.”

Pochettino returned to Austin, where he coached his first U.S. match on Oct. 12 last year. The Americans are 11-7-1 since he took over.

No. 24 Ecuador, which finished second behind Argentina in South American World Cup qualifying, extended its team-record unbeaten streak to 12 games, including seven draws.

La Tri is at Mexico on Tuesday.

Valencia scored in the 24th minute when he touched a through pass from Jordy Alcívar wide of Chris Richards, broke in on goal with two more touches and shot just past Matt Freese's outstretched right hand and inside the far post. Valencia, who turns 36 next month, is Ecuador's goals leader with 48 in 101 international appearances.

Christian Pulisic, the top U.S. player, didn't start because of a sore ankle and entered in the 73rd minute.

Max Arfsten on the left and Weah on the right started as wing backs. Five days after his birthday, defender Tim Ream became the fourth non-goalkeeper to play for the U.S. at 38 or older after Ed Murphy in 1969, Gordon Bradley in 1973 and Preki Radosavljević in 2001. Ream was joined by Richards and Miles Robinson on the back line.

Left back Antonee Robinson, still regaining fitness following knee surgery in May, did not dress. Forward Alex Zendejas also did not dress and is returning to Mexico's América because of a knee injury, Pochettino said.

___

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer