Balogun equalises as US held 1-1 by Ecuador

Folarin Balogun netted a levelling goal in the second half to help the United States recover from a deficit and secure a 1-1 stalemate against Ecuador during a friendly match on Friday.

The Monaco forward Balogun slotted in a smart effort in the 71st minute, connecting with an expertly placed pass from Malik Tillman during the game at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Ecuador opened the scoring in the 24th minute as experienced forward Enner Valencia exploited a swift breakaway launched by the South American outfit.

Valencia shook off Crystal Palace centre-back Chris Richards with his initial control before drilling a precise low drive beyond the reach of United States keeper Matt Freese.

Nevertheless, the USA bounced back effectively from the initial blow, with Mauricio Pochettino's squad appearing more dangerous following the interval and earning their equaliser through Balogun around the midpoint of the second period.

Both the outcome and the display from the United States offered plenty of encouragement for head coach Pochettino, who has faced challenges in establishing steady form over the past year in his role.

Facing Ecuador, a highly competitive South American side that has earned a spot at the World Cup, Pochettino's team fully merited the point they gained.

"Building some momentum feels positive," Balogun commented post-match. "Ahead of kick-off, I noted that Ecuador represent a tough opponent, and we anticipated a challenging encounter, yet we are a touch frustrated at missing out on victory.

"Still, I believe we dominated and drew numerous encouraging aspects. We showed effective teamwork in build-up and generated several opportunities. Perhaps I needed to finish with greater sharpness."

The United States will take on Australia in another preparatory fixture on Tuesday, this time in Colorado.