USA vs. Ecuador: 2nd Half Live Blog, Goals and Commentary
It’s halftime at Red Bull Arena with the United States and Ecuador tied 0-0.
The US has played well so far but will need more creativity to break down a strong Ecuador side.
Check back frequently for updates throughout the second half.
Goals:
Jaime Ayovi (Ecuador)—79′
Full time: 1-0 Ecuador
There’s the final whistle.
That’s the third defeat for the US in five games under Klinsmann. As cliche as it’s starting to sound, the performance really is more important than the result at this point.
Tonight, though, the performance was just OK. The US played well in the first half, but substitutions wreaked havoc on the squad’s rhythm.
Check back soon for player ratings and reactions.
94th minute—Ooooh
Onyewu puts in some good work to set up Dempsey, whose shot is deflected into the side netting.
The corner amounts to nothing. That’s got to be about all.
92nd minute
Michael Bradley takes a corner. It’s too long.
The US looks headed for its third defeat in five games under Jurgen Klinsmann.
90th minute: Still 1-0 Ecuador
The US is searching desperately for an equalizer.
The attacks are a bit too predictable and direct. But time is running out, so it’s hard to ask for anything else right now.
87th minute—Death stare!
Oguchi Onyewu gets fouled, then stands over the Ecuador player with a mean look on his face.
I wouldn’t want to piss off Gooch. Maybe that’s why the Ecuador player acted injured for a minute.
82nd minute
The announcers are right: The US has worked hard and will be very disappointed if this result holds.
Ream’d.
79th minute—Ecuador goal
Well crap.
Did I just jinx the US?
Ayovi heads home after an excellent cross from the left side. Tim Ream gave him too much time.
Come on, Ream. Ball side, goal side. That’s high school stuff.
77th minute
It’s still 0-0 and we’ve hit a lull in the action.
Through 15 minutes, this game looked like a shootout (in the American sense of the word, not the penalty-kick sense). Both teams had chances, and the action was up and down the pitch.
Ecuador had a good spell early in the second half but the US weathered the storm.
Now it’s time to grab a late winner.
75th minute—US chance
And it’s Onyewu!
Onyewu ganks the ball from Beasley, turns and shoots over. That was actually not a bad effort from the central defender.
A minute before, Michael Bradley played a perfect cross on a free kick. That was pretty.
Too bad no one could steer it home.
72nd minute—Thierry Henry sighting!
Yep, that was Henry up in the luxury boxes—texting on his phone!
I know it’s not the World Cup, but come on, Thierry!
Anyway, Tim Ream comes on. Not sure who he replaced.
69th minute—US chance!
Beasley takes a shot from outside the box. He struck it well with his left foot, but it was right at the keeper.
The announcer says he hasn’t scored for the US in three years to the day. Wow.
65th minute—US sub
Edson Buddle replaces Danny Williams.
Williams played well in his debut the other night. Tonight wasn’t quite the same but he still had a decent game.
62nd minute—Bocanegra booked
Bocanegra gets a yellow card for a foul that stopped an Ecuador break.
He deserved it, but he didn’t actually have to foul there.
60th minute—Ecuador chance
What was Jonathan Spector doing there?
He had tons of time but he headed the ball out for a corner.
Ecuador’s extra chance ends with a shot just past the post. Was that Montero? I didn’t see. He’s been all over the place tonight.
Then Montero comes off for a sub. That’s good news for the US.
56th minute—US half chance
A US corner falls to the feet of Dempsey, who’s alone in the box. He didn’t seem to know the ball was there because his touch was poor.
Good chance, though.
Moments later, Michael Bradley’s free kick goes just over the bar at the back post. Was he going for goal?
52nd minute
Onyewu gets a bit lucky when the ball hits him on the back and bounces away from danger. The Ecuador forward had him beat.
Ecuador has started the second half better than the US. The US midfield needs to take control and stabilize the game.
49th minute
The teams are settling into the second half.
Right before the end of halftime, the sideline reporter made a good point: The US didn’t allow any dangerous chances to Ecuador, which is a very solid South American side.
The US defense has played well so far.
46th minute
Ecuador gets the second half under way. The US made four—count ‘em four—substitutions.
Juan Agudelo, DaMarcus Beasley, Jonathan Spector and Michael Bradley all come on.
Jozy Altidore, Maurice Edu, Steve Cherundolo and Brek Shea come on.
I like these moves. The US midfield needed something. Two subs are coming into the midfield. Maybe they’ll make a difference.
Pingback: USA vs. Ecuador: Live Blog, Goals, Commentary « Mike's Best Guess