Poch: 'Brave' U.S. upped tempo in Ecuador draw

United States manager Mauricio Pochettino praised the tone of his roster that earned a comeback 1-1 gully against Ecuador successful an assertive affable connected Friday that included a 71st infinitesimal equalizer from Folarin Balogun.

"We were truthful brave successful trying to spell forward, effort to find the space," said Pochettino post-game astir the 2nd fractional efforts arsenic the U.S. upped its tempo astatine Q2 Stadium successful Austin, Texas. "Ecuador is simply a precise carnal team. Chasing radical astatine the aforesaid time, with the anticipation and the calm to play, I deliberation we were susceptible to find the gaps and situation [them].

"I deliberation we improved successful the 2nd half. I deliberation we predominate the crippled successful each the aspects."

Down 1-0 aft Ecuador's Enner Valencia scored successful the 24th minute, the Americans responded by maintaining attacking momentum and precocious possession successful a combative matchup against the South Americans that person not mislaid a crippled since September of 2024.

Following a scoreless archetypal half, Pochettino and his roster accrued their strength aft halftime and yet got a extremity from Balogun from an assistance by Malik Tillman.

"So happy. Always a striker needs to consciousness the net, and his enactment ethic is astonishing successful the mode that helium ever is disposable successful each azygous facet of the game, with and without ball," said Pochettino astir the AS Monaco striker. "I americium truthful pleased astir his performance."

Balogun's performance, among different standouts, is invited quality for Pochettino, who whitethorn not beryllium capable to number connected others successful the last affable of October's planetary interruption against Australia connected Tuesday. In the lawsuit of Alejandro Zendejas, who didn't formal for the Ecuador game, the Club America subordinate volition beryllium heading backmost to Mexico City aft suffering an wounded contented successful training.

"Zendejas, atrocious news, due to the fact that helium is leaving tonight...because helium has a tiny contented successful his knee, backmost of his knee," Pochettino said. "It's not a large issue, but he's not going to beryllium disposable for the adjacent crippled and helium needs to travel backmost to his club."

Fulham's Antonee Robinson, who is returning to nationalist squad play after undergoing country successful May, besides didn't formal for Friday's friendly.

"Antonee, we request to assess. Today [he] wasn't available, we'll spot time if helium tin train. We volition communicate, but contiguous helium wasn't available," said Pochettino, who besides noted that AC Milan prima Christian Pulisic isn't astatine 100% aft an ankle issue.

Pulisic was fixed conscionable 17 minutes disconnected the seat against Ecuador, and Pochettino said aft the crippled that they'll "see if helium tin beryllium disposable again" for adjacent Tuesday.

With the effect successful hand, the U.S. present has a win, a gully and a nonaccomplishment since its decision successful the summer's Gold Cup last against Mexico.

After the October model ends, Pochettino and the U.S. volition play 2 friendlies successful November against Paraguay and Read Entire Article