US Men’s Soccer takes down Ecuador 1-0 in Orlando friendly
The US Men’s National Soccer Team beat the national team form Ecuador 1-0 in front of 17,442 fans at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando last night.
Gyasi Zardes cored a goal in the 81’s minute to earn the victory. New head coach Gregg Berhalter became the second Mens National Team coach to start his tenure off with three straight victories.
The US controlled the flow of most of the match. The US close to scoring in the 25th minute. Receiving a ball in the penalty area, Christian Pulisic laid off a pass for Paul Arriola on the left, but the winger’s first-time effort was turned away well by Ecuador ‘keeper Alexander Domínguez.
The USA looked to have gone ahead five minutes later when Weston McKennie made a line-breaking pass for Jordan Morris on the right. He centered for Zardes, who touched the ball into the path off Arriola to finish from close range, but linesman Philippe Briere ruled that Morris was just offside on the original pass.
The USA found the game-winner through Zardes, who collected a pass from Tim Ream about 25 yards from goal. Zardes unleashed an effort that took a wicked deflection off Ecuador defender Robert Arboleda and looped over ‘keeper Alexander Domínguez. The goal was the seventh of Zardes’ international career and first since scoring the game-winner in a 2-1 victory against Ecuador in the Copa America Centernario quarterfinals on June 16, 2016 in Seattle.
The MNT continues its march towards the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup against another South American foe, taking on Chile on Tuesday, March 26 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Kickoff is set for 7:55 p.m. ET with ESPN2, UniMas and UDN covering the action.