AUSTIN, Texas – When captain Tim Ream brought up the U.S. Men’s National Team’s energetic response in the group’s 1-1 draw with Ecuador, it seemed like a natural follow-up to ask about one of the most energetic players on the pitch:
U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.
“He was all over the place tonight,” Ream said. “Ball into feet, balls in behind, his darting runs that he can make, battling with a center back who’s bigger than him, which he’s added to his game. He was full of running all night long and gave everyone an option whenever they had the ball. That’s what we need from our striker. And he gets his reward with a goal. A really good performance from him. Full of energy, full of running and smart – very, very smart with and without the ball. That’s two goals in two games for him. Long may that continue.”
Balogun was the lone goal scorer on the night for the United States, converting the match’s equalizer in the 71st minute to bring his team even with Ecuador.
But Balogun stood out long before his goal with the chances he was creating for himself and teammates. The striker took the first shot on target for the U.S. in the eighth minute of action – a decent chance that Ecuador goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez collected.
Veteran winger Christian Pulisic said in September that Balogun provides an out for the team, someone teammates can target and move the attack through. The striker did that, plus a whole lot more Friday night.
“You could see it today, all the runs that he got in to, and fighting the center backs,” forward Tim Weah said. “That’s beautiful to watch. He showed up in the last two games, which is very important for us because he’s a super important player. I’m proud of him.”
Balogun showed he can be a difference maker for the United States going back to that September window. The 24-year-old forward earned his first cap under head coach Mauricio Pochettino in the last camp and made an instant impact. In the first match against Korea Republic, he came off the bench and was perhaps an incredible save away from scoring that night as well and making it three-for-three.
He did find the back of the net in the second September match, finishing off an assist from Pulisic to secure the 2-0 win over Japan.
Balogun’s goal against Ecuador meant his second in as many matches, bringing his total in international soccer to seven. Tonight, he did it the old-fashioned way – knocking in an excellent cross with a clinical, disciplined finish near goal.
“I was happy that it went in, but I was focused on trying to get the ball back and get a second,” Balogun said. “I’m happy to get back-to-back goals on the international team. I want to continue to build on the momentum.”
The man to deliver the ball for Balogun’s goal Friday was midfielder Malik Tillman, who started the match and helped apply pressure that led to the United States regaining possession deep in their final third.
Earlier this week, Tillman told the media that he was looking forward to playing more with Balogun and that he saw it as his job to give Balogun the ball. Tillman said if he and his team did that, they would find the net – just like it did against Ecuador.
“He’s a great player,” Tillman said of Balogun. “He’s a good finisher. He’s a good runner. We just have to feed him and then we’ll score some goals.”
