Mauricio Pochettino has said repeatedly during the ups and downs of the 2025 US season that he doesn't care about the results just yet. The most important place to win is actually only An important place to win, he said, is the 2026 World Cup. Of course, the results should ideally match the performance, but this is not necessary. Not yet.
That's a good thing, because on Friday night the US was again greeted with a result that was probably less than the Americans deserved. Draw 1-1 with Ecuador In Austin, Texas, the USA controlled the game most of the time, winning most of the individual defensive battles and occasionally making some really attractive moves forward against Ecuador's disciplined defensive shell.
Ecuador's goal came from a relatively minor mistake in the first half, pounced on and punished by seemingly ageless veteran Enner Valencia. The USA's equalizer, scored by Folarin Balogun in the 71st minute, came from one of those aforementioned moves that usually didn't lead to dangerous scoring chances. The expressions on the American players' faces after the final whistle conveyed a sense of disappointment; the feeling that they could have, should have, done better against the team that finished second in a difficult South American qualifying process.
In this game, as in the same encouraging demonstration against Japan To close the final window, the USA used a three-man defensive line (Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Miles Robinson in the starting lineup) with aggressive full-backs and a midfield double pivot (Tanner Tessmann and Aidan Morris, both returning to the national team after long absences). Once again, the USA looked comfortable in this form, settling into a rhythm after Ecuador's press caused some nervous moments in the very early stages of the game.
Tim Weah starting at right winger provided an interesting opportunity – a role Weah has played most often at club level but less frequently in the US. He looked right at home, providing good balance to Max Arfsten on the opposite flank, with both overlapping at will on occasions where the US could move the ball into the middle third.
However, Valencia opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a run and finish that belied the run at the 35-year-old's feet. In his 101st cap, the former West Ham and Everton man found himself isolated in space against American defender Chris Richards. He used a well-weighted touch to open up space, forcing Richards to chase him as he ran into the box. As the window closed and U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese approached the near post, Valencia fired a shot past the legs of Richards and the hands of Freese to open the scoring.
The US defense, especially against the durable Richards, will be called into question at this point. But the same must be said for the team's midfield, which found itself in midfield when Jordi Alcivar received a pass from behind and was able to easily turn and find Valencia without much resistance.
Just a few minutes later Richards almost made up for lost time, converting a corner kick to the far post with a close-range strike on the ground that was saved by Ecuador goalkeeper Hernán Gilindez – one of his five players on the night.
The USA ended the first half with 66% possession – a figure they maintained throughout – but had little to show for it, thanks in large part to poor chances, stubborn defending from Ecuador and a few instances of indecisive play.
One such instance came in the 31st minute when the USA were able to take the lead after outplaying Ecuador in the midfield. With the ball on the right flank, Morris sent four American bodies into the box, each presenting an opportunity for a potential cross. However, neither was able to get the ball, limiting Morris' options. And when he finally decided to take a shot at Weah's overlapping pass, the pass was too heavy and over the baseline.
However, there were many positive aspects for the United States. Time and time again, effective space defense stopped Ecuador's counter-attacks, including a particularly timely tackle from Miles Robinson in the 33rd minute that saved a potential 3-on-1 from a set-piece.
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And in general, the United States has found a place in Ecuador's well-thought-out structure. They simply could not account for these gaps, at least until Balogun equalized. It was the second game in a row in the United States that Balogun scored a goal, which seemed to finally cement his place as the team's starting forward.
His goal was the result of a poor pass from Ecuador as they tried to play from behind: Tessmann was able to pick up the ball from space at the top of the box and play a well-placed through ball to Malik Tillman, who was barely kept in the game by Ecuadorian defender Joel Ordoñez jostling for position with Balogun near the penalty spot. Tillman's shot hit Balogun's leg and his shot bounced off the post and into the net.
The goal ended a 520-minute clean sheet for Ecuador, a sign of the defensive mentality that has helped them to their best World Cup qualifying campaign ever, but also that the problems the US faced were not unprecedented.
There were other close calls, chances that were blocked, passes that were inches off target. Christian Pulisic, who was left out of the starting line-up as a precaution after picking up an injury in training, was at the center of most of those positives after coming on as a substitute.
Ultimately, the apparent improvement in the US will be a relief to fans who have been waiting a long time to see how this generation will stack up against the best teams in the world. There will simply be no result that would show this.
