United States coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the spirit of his gamers, who rallied for a 1-1 draw in opposition to Ecuador in an aggressive pleasant Friday that included a 71st-minute equalizer from Folarin Balogun.
“We had been so courageous in making an attempt to go ahead, attempt to discover the house,” Pochettino stated postgame about his workforce’s second-half efforts because the U.S. upped its tempo at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. “Ecuador is a really bodily workforce. Chasing individuals on the identical time, with the chance and the calm to play, I believe we had been succesful to seek out the gaps and problem [them].
“I believe we improved within the second half. I believe we dominate the sport in all of the points.”
Trailing 1-0 after Ecuador’s Enner Valencia scored within the twenty fourth minute, the Individuals responded by sustaining attacking momentum and excessive possession in a combative matchup in opposition to the South Individuals, who haven’t misplaced a sport since September 2024.
After a scoreless first half, Pochettino and his gamers elevated their depth and finally acquired a aim from Balogun from an help by Malik Tillman.
“So glad. All the time a striker must really feel the web, and his work ethic is wonderful in the best way that he at all times is out there in each single side of the sport, with and with out ball,” Pochettino stated in regards to the AS Monaco striker. “I’m so happy about his efficiency.”
Balogun’s efficiency, amongst different standouts, is welcome information for Pochettino, who won’t have the ability to depend on others within the last pleasant of October’s worldwide break in opposition to Australia on Tuesday. Within the case of Alejandro Zendejas, who wasn’t in uniform for the Ecuador sport, the Membership America participant will probably be heading again to Mexico Metropolis after struggling a knee damage in coaching.
“Zendejas, dangerous information, as a result of he’s leaving tonight … as a result of he has a small difficulty in his knee, again of his knee,” Pochettino stated. “It isn’t an enormous difficulty, however he isn’t going to be obtainable for the subsequent sport, and he wants to come back again to his membership.”
Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, who’s returning to nationwide workforce play after present process surgical procedure in Could, additionally wasn’t in uniform for Friday’s pleasant.
“Antonee, we have to assess. As we speak, [he] wasn’t obtainable. We’ll see tomorrow if he can practice. We are going to talk, however at present, he wasn’t obtainable,” stated Pochettino, who additionally famous that AC Milan star Christian Pulisic is not at 100% after an ankle difficulty.
Pulisic performed simply 17 minutes off the bench in opposition to Ecuador, and Pochettino stated after the sport that they will “see if he will be obtainable once more” for Tuesday.
The U.S. now has a win, a draw and a loss since its defeat in the summertime’s Gold Cup last in opposition to Mexico.
After the October window, Pochettino and the U.S. will play two friendlies in November in opposition to Paraguay and Uruguay to shut out the yr.
