Folarin Balogun secures the draw off a Malik Tillman cross

The United States Men’s National Team displayed a valiant, resilient effort in the group’s opening match of the October window, rallying from a goal down to draw a red-hot Ecuador side 1-1 in one of the toughest tests in the yearlong Mauricio Pochettino era.

The first of two World Cup-bound opponents for the United States in October, Ecuador entered Friday’s sold-out contest at Q2 Stadium unbeaten in 11 straight matches. La Tri finished second in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying, proving to be a quality opponent as the United States continues the all-important lead-up to next summer.

Four starting midfielders made their first appearance in several months or more for the U.S. Weston McKennie and Tanner Tessmann saw their first action since the Concacaf Nations League in March. Malik Tillman returned for the first time since a dynamic performance in the Gold Cup this summer. Aidan Morris earned his first cap in nearly a year.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino started a back four of Miles Robinson, Chris Richards in the middle with captain Tim Ream, and Max Arfsten. Morris and Tanner Tessman patrolled the midfield, with Tim Weah featured on the wing opposite Malik Tillman. Goalkeeper Matt Freese and striker Folarin Balogun bookended Pochettino’s starting XI.

Balogun began the match sharp, deftly turning with defenders on his back and charging up the pitch with determined effort. The striker attempted the first shot of the match for the United States after combining nicely with Tillman in the eighth minute. Balogun fired a low, left-footed shot on target, which called Ecuador goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez into action for his first of five saves. Later, Balogun nearly curled a wicked right-footed strike into the upper corner in the 22nd minute.

Ecuador opened the scoring doing what they are best known for: transition moments. On a fast counterattack, John Yeboah fed the ball up the pitch to Enner Valencia. The leading goal scorer in Ecuadorian history added another to his total and put La Tri ahead 1-0 with a skillful, right-footed strike.

In response, the United States showed a fighting spirit and created many chances before the halftime break. On the ensuing possession, Richards clanged a shot off the post following a corner kick from Tillman, missing the equalizer by inches. After McKennie saved the ball from rolling out of bounds, a deflection off Arfsten’s driven cross required a reactive, diving block from Galíndez. Then, in the closing minutes of the first half, Balogun made a short pass to Morris running on inside the box. The midfielder’s shot caught a deflection and missed wide.

Pochettino made a double-substitution in the 63rd minute. Midfielder Diego Luna and defender Alex Freeman replaced McKennie and Robinson. Luna had a go from the edge of the 18-yard box minutes after entering the match, but Galíndez collected the low, driven shot.

After knocking on the door relentlessly for more than 45 minutes, the United States finally was rewarded with the equalizer. The U.S. applied pressure on an Ecuador goal kick. Tillman, whose pressure helped to force the takeaway, received the ball back from Tessmann in a tight space. The midfielder crossed the ball along the six-yard line, and Balogun put away the clinical finish for a well-deserved goal to bring the match level in the 71st minute.

Two minutes later, Christian Pulisic entered the match as a substitute along with midfielder Cristian Roldan and defender Mark McKenzie. The group on the pitch was tasked with finding the game-winner and although the U.S. did not take its foot off the pedal, and Matt Freese made three second-half saves to keep Ecuador at bay, the U.S. finished with a hard-fought 1-1 tie.

In four days, the USMNT faces World Cup-qualified Australia, presented by American Airlines, at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. The match on Tuesday, Oct. 14 marks the first time the USMNT has played in Commerce City, Colorado since 2017.

Lineups:

USA: 1-Matt Freese; 12-Miles Robinson (16-Alex Freeman, 63), 3-Chris Richards, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.) (22-Mark McKenzie, 73); 21-Tim Weah (10-Christian Pulisic, 73), 4-Tanner Tessmann, 23-Aidan Morris (6-Cristian Roldan, 73), 18-Max Arfsten; 8-Weston McKennie (7-Diego Luna, 63), 20-Folarin Balogun (19-Haji Wright, 81), 17-Malik Tillman

Substitutes not used: 1-Matt Turner, 2-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 9-Patrick Agyemang, 11-Brenden Aaronson, 15-James Sands, 25-Patrick Schulte, 26-Chris Brady

Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino

ECU: 1- Hernán Galíndez; 7- Pervis Estupiñán (24-Yaimar Medina, 40), 6- Willian Pacho, 4-Joel Ordóñez, 21-Alan Franco (Capt.); 15- Pedro Vite, 8- Jordy Alcivar (19-Denil Castillo, 90); 10- Kendry Páez (11-Kevin Rodríguez, 45), 9-John Yeboah (20-Nilson Angulo, 45); 17- Ángelo Preciado, 13- Enner Valencia (16-Leonardo Campana, 74)

Substitutes not used: 2-Félix Torres, 3-Jhoanner Chávez, 5-Cristian Ramírez, 12-Moisés Ramírez, 18-John Mercado, 22-Gonzalo Valle, 23-Patrik Mercado, 25-Darwin Guagua, 26-Bryan Ramírez

Head coach: Sebastián Beccacece

US Soccer Release

Folarin Balogun - Photo by Aric Becker/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images