Promising Second Half…

AUSTIN, Texas — Initially, the phrase “tale of two halves” might not seem fitting to characterize the 1-1 draw between the U.S. men’s national team and Ecuador on Friday. The U.S. held a significant lead in possession, generated promising opportunities, and outperformed La Tri during many periods. Yet, if viewed from another perspective, the phrase does apply.

In the first half, despite dominating possession (64.4% to 35.6%), it was Ecuador that found control in pivotal moments. They executed the crucial plays that made an impact, reflecting their recent success. The Ecuadorian side has built its performance on strong defense, excellent goalkeeping when necessary, and a capable counter-attacking strategy, which led them to finish second in World Cup qualifiers, behind the reigning champions, Argentina. They conceded only five goals over 18 matches, and though scoring 14 goals isn’t seen as prolific, it was sufficient to secure a spot in their sixth consecutive World Cup.

In this match, for at least one half, Ecuador fulfilled all these criteria. Their defense effectively restricted space, redirected passes, and led the U.S. into challenging positions. On the rare occasions the U.S. managed to penetrate their defense, goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez shone with exceptional saves, notably a deflection off the post from a Chris Richards shot in the 26th minute.

Ecuador capitalized on a U.S. misstep, scoring a transition goal in the 24th minute. U.S. midfielder Aidan Morris was unable to intercept a transition pass intended for Jordy Alcivar. Subsequently, Alcivar’s delivery to Enner Valencia created a one-on-one situation against Richards, which Valencia exploited to score just inside Matt Freese’s far post.

This sequence, defined by a series of small successes, encapsulated the first half.

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In the second half, the U.S. flipped the script. They exhibited greater composure in defense, increased their attacking tempo, and scored a goal following a press, a sequence involving Tim Weah, Tanner Tessmann, and Malik Tillman, culminating in Folarin Balogun scoring off a pass from Tillman. The U.S. pushed to secure a winning goal but couldn’t find the back of the net again.

Nonetheless, the performance showcased the strengths of the USMNT, despite the unsatisfactory scoreline. There was an abundance of attacking dynamism, with Tillman and Weston McKennie using their clever plays to set up Balogun in advantageous positions. Defensely, the U.S. appeared solid in a formation that mirrored their successful approach during the Gold Cup, featuring a fluid backline that often defended with four players while allowing left back Max Arfsten to push higher up the pitch.

Among the more promising signs from the match was the U.S.’s ability to win crucial battles in the second half and convert them into game-changing plays. Building this habit is essential for success in the upcoming 2026 World Cup next summer. The teams tend to be evenly matched, particularly in knockout stages, where minor details can distinguish between progressing deep and an early exit.

Throughout this year, particularly in matches featuring most of the first-choice players, the U.S. had struggled to capitalize on these small opportunities. Their recent match against Japan and Friday’s performance suggest they are becoming more adept at emerging victorious in such situations.

The U.S. team’s ability to achieve this transformation is still subject to analysis, though it’s evident that it stems from various factors. The squad is finally exhibiting the energy and urgency that manager Mauricio Pochettino demands, as demonstrated by their winning 53.4% of duels, 73.3% of tackles, and 65.0% of aerial battles. This foundation opens doors for more dynamic attacking play, a development that offers Pochettino a sense of relief.

“I’m really pleased that we are not discussing issues like commitment or attitude, topics that used to come up frequently,” the U.S. manager remarked after the match. “That’s a significant improvement … If we perform better and demonstrate strength over our opponents, we can achieve victory. If we fall short, it’s merely a tactical issue.”

He further stated: “We showcased great mentality, which is how we aim to build towards the World Cup.”

This team appears to be growing more at ease with Pochettino’s system. The adjustment period has been lengthy—longer than anticipated since Pochettino’s appointment a year ago—but the team is steadily achieving the much-needed cohesion, boosting their confidence. The U.S. players are beginning to play instinctively rather than overanalyzing situations.

“When you’re thinking, ‘Oh, I need to position myself here or there,’ you start overthinking instead of acting,” says U.S. defender Tim Ream. “Now, it’s more about doing what feels right; our ideas are becoming established, and everyone can give their all at all times.”

Combined with the U.S. team’s high level of fitness—a longstanding strength—this factor has enabled them to gain and maintain an advantage. According to Ream, this became especially apparent during the second half, as the team wore their opponents down over time. Winning challenges led to a positive feedback loop, energizing the entire squad.

“We began winning more crucial plays, and we looked like the fresher team as the match progressed,” he remarked. “And having experienced being on the other side, I can sense when an opponent starts to flag. When I saw them tiring, that energized us further, allowing us to press harder and connect better. Though our connections were decent in the first half, they improved in the second half. It wears teams down, and it did so today.”

This progress—across tactics, mentality, fitness, and execution—is noteworthy, especially considering the absences in the lineup. Alejandro Zendejas, impactful in the match against Japan, missed the game due to a knee injury that has him returning to Club America; Antonee Robinson, expected to enhance the squad, was absent from the game roster; Christian Pulisic only made a 17-minute appearance off the bench; and both Tyler Adams, who is about to become a father, and Sergiño Dest (injured) were also missing from the roster.

There’s no doubt that the U.S. would be stronger with those players in the mix. Pochettino has a task on his hands to determine who will be in his World Cup squad and how he will configure his lineup once that’s decided. However, given the team’s substantial progress, it’s a challenge he’ll be pleased to face.