AUSTIN, Texas (Oct. 10, 2025) – 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.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
ECU – Enner Valencia (John Yeboah), 24th minute: Ecuador opened the scoring on a quickly-developing counterattack. Yeboah fed Valencia with a pass up the pitch. The striker made a firm touch to split the U.S. defense then timed his right-footed strike from inside the box just right, driving it across his body and into the far side of the net. USA 0, ECU 1
USA – Folarin Balogun (Malik Tillman), 71st minute: The United States created a takeaway deep in the team’s attacking third following an Ecuador goal kick. Weah combined with Tessmann, who found Tillman in a tight space. Tillman delivered a low cross into the six-yard box, and Balogun cushioned the ball from close range for his second goal in consecutive matches. USA 1, ECU 1 FINAL
Additional Notes:
- Antonee Robinson and Alex Zendejas were not available for selection.
- Tonight’s match in Austin took place almost a year to the day of Pochettino’s USMNT debut, a 2-0 win against Panama also at Q2 Stadium.
- Landon Donovan was in attendance for tonight’s match, which comes 11 years to the day since the soccer legend played his last game for the United States. Donovan recorded an episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast with hosts David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg prior to kickoff and held autograph sessions with the U.S. Soccer fans in attendance.
- The night celebrated Hispanic Heritage, paying tribute to generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our society.
- U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –
Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Ecuador
Date: October 10, 2025
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas
Attendance: 20,738 (sellout)
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Weather: 86 degrees, clear
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| ECU |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| ECU – Enner Valencia (John Yeboah) | 24th minute |
| USA – Folarin Balogun (Malik Tillman) | 71 |
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
Stats Summary: USA / ECU
Shots: 11 / 8
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 8 / 4
Fouls: 9 / 13
Offside: 3 / 2
| USA – Chris Richards (Caution) | 18th minute |
| USA – Miles Robinson (Caution) | 40 |
| ECU – Yaimar Medina (Caution) | 83 |
| ECU – Willian Pacho (Caution) | 90 |
Officials:
Referee: Filip Dujic (CAN)
Assistant 1: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt (CAN)
Assistant 2: Gerard-Kader Lebuis (CAN)
Fourth Official: Carly Shaw-MacLaren (CAN)
Michelob Ultra Man of the Match: Folarin Balogun
