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USA vs. Ecuador: Score, Reaction from 2016 International Friendly
- Updated: May 26, 2016
After a sluggish first half, the United States men’s national soccer team looked ready for the upcoming Copa America Centenario in June during Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador in an international friendly at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Darlington Nagbe buried a shot in the back of the net in the 90th minute to give the Americans the dramatic victory, while Brad Guzan pitched a clean sheet in goal. Sam Stejskal of MLS Soccer’s official website noted the Americans had 22 of the 23 players named to the Copa America roster available against Ecuador, so they have something to build on with the win.
ESPN Stats & Info pointed out a lineup switch that moved Michael Bradley and utilized Nagbe proved to be the difference between a scoreless first half and the breakthrough goal and overall control of the game in the second half:
Effects of Bradley at No. 6 & Nagbe in the game? 1st half: 45% possession, 79% passing pct 2nd half: 55% possession, 87% passing pct
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 26, 2016
While Nagbe was the ultimate difference-maker, Clint Dempsey made some team history just by being in the starting lineup. Paul Carr of ESPN Stats & Info said he tied DaMarcus Beasley for the fifth-most caps (123) for the United States.
Despite Dempsey’s experience, it was Ecuador that controlled the early portion of the game. La Tricolor had multiple opportunities in the opening 17 minutes, but Guzan and the American defense continued to turn them away. Guzan snagged a corner kick and cut off a crossing pass, but the Americans weren’t generating much counteraction, as SB Nation’s Stars and Stripes FC highlighted:
20 minutes in and the U.S. have entered Ecuador’s box once. But they’re trying really hard.
— Stars and Stripes FC (@StarsStripesFC) May 26, 2016
The offense remained limited for the rest of the first half, as the two teams went into the halftime locker rooms in a scoreless tie. The …
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