USA vs. Ecuador: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction
The United States earned a 1-1 draw in a friendly against Ecuador at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut on Friday. More importantly, Landon Donovan closed the chapter on his national team career.
Donovan was famously left off Jurgen Klinsmann's squad for the 2014 World Cup, but the German coach and the U.S. Soccer Federation allowed arguably the most talented American soccer player ever to receive a proper send-off.
The thorny relationship between Donovan and Klinsmann served as a backdrop for the friendly. Despite the celebratory nature of the event, the national team coach couldn't help but to aim one more dig at the retiring star heading into the match.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
"I'm looking at Landon always that I wish, in a certain way, he could have done a bit more here and a bit more there," he said, per MLSSoccer.com's Andrew Wiebe. "But he had a tremendous career and he deserves that farewell tomorrow night and all the compliments on your end as well."
Donovan had a chance to get in his own comments.
"It's easy for people to judge others in their career choices in their life choices," the retiring star said in a news conference on Friday, per ESPN FC. "I've tried not to do that because I don't live anyone else's life, and likewise nobody lives my life."
Donovan started the friendly and played until the 41st minute, by which time he was subbed off for Joe Corona. He had two shots on goal, one of which caromed off the post, before exiting a USMNT match for the final time:
As ESPN's Max Bretos tweeted, Corona will likely go down in American soccer lore for his role in Donovan's farewell:
Donovan and Klinsmann shared a brief, albeit slightly awkward, moment on the touchline. Dirty Tackle's Brooks Peck fantasized that Donovan went Michael Corleone on his coach:
After the match, Donovan had a little fun with the media talking about the words between he and Klinsmann, per Brian Straus of Sports Illustrated:
Mix Diskerud, the player who wore the No. 10 shirt most associated with Donovan for the 2014 World Cup, scored the opener for the United States in the fifth minute.
Jozy Altidore failed to make much contact with a Donovan cross close to goal. He quickly regained control of the ball and passed to DeAndre Yedlin, who set up Diskerud in front of goal.
The Shin Guardian's Matthew Tomaszewicz feels that while Diskerud may not be the most fundamentally sound player, the Rosenborg midfielder possesses an innate ability to be in the right place at the right time:
"Mix Diskerud plays a bit like Clint Dempsey ... they both don't have the best fundamentals, movement, but somehow they just make the play.
— Matthew Tomaszewicz (@shinguardian) October 10, 2014"
The United States didn't create much more after Diskerud's goal. Jozy Altidore had his moments but still looked a little unsure of himself at times. He executed a nice back-heel to set up Donovan's first shot on goal, but that was his biggest moment of the match. Moving away from Sunderland might be the only way Altidore can regain his goal-scoring form.
One of Ecuador's first scoring opportunities came in the 67th minute. Joao Plata got in behind the U.S. back line for a one-on-one chance with U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan. However, the linesman ruled Plata offside.
Chris Kamrani of The Salt Lake Tribune felt the United States got off lucky:
In the 87th minute, Plata had another chance to score, but Tim Ream got in the way of the shot to remove the danger.
Enner Valencia provided the equalizer in the 88th minute with a shot that wrong-footed Guzan. The movement of the ball left the U.S. goalkeeper helpless. American soccer writer Charles Boehm blamed technology for the goal:
Valencia's on a great run of form for the national team, per Paul Carr of ESPN Stats and Info:
Bobby Wood had a great chance to win the match for the United States in the 93rd minute, but he was caught of two minds. He couldn't decide whether to shoot or slot a pass across to Chris Wondolowski. The attacking move came to nothing.
The momentous night wasn't all positive for the U.S. men's national team. Joe Gyau, a 22-year-old midfielder for Borussia Dortmund, left the match in the 22nd minute after suffering a knee injury. He was on crutches as he left to the locker room, per American soccer writer Ives Galarcep:
According to Brian Sciaretta of American Soccer Now, team doctors initially diagnosed Gyau with a sprained right knee:
Grades
Landon Donovan, United States: A+
You can't possibly give Donovan anything less than an "A+" for his final national team match. While it would've been nice theater for Donovan to get on the score sheet, this night was simply a celebration of a great career.
The 32-year-old leaves as the leading scorer (57) and assist man (58) in USMNT history. He also started more matches (140) than any other USMNT player.
After the match, Klinsmann hinted at the idea that U.S. Soccer could have a role for Donovan once he officially steps away from the game:
DeAndre Yedlin, United States: A-
Klinsmann opted for Yedlin in midfield, which at this stage in his career might be his better position. By playing on the right side of midfield, Yedlin doesn't have to worry as much about his defensive duties. The Seattle Sounders star can sometimes be caught out of position on the counter when deployed at right-back.
Klinsmann indicated that he might use Yedlin in an attacking position more often going forward:
Yedlin was constantly on the move Friday, as evidenced by his position on Diskerud's goal. The 21-year-old did a little bit of everything.
Joao Plata, Ecuador: B
The biggest reason Plata's grade isn't higher is that he only played in the second half. When you only play 45 minutes, you need to do something special to earn top honors.
Plata was unlucky that the linesman ruled him offside as he was bearing down on Guzan. If the right call was made, then Plata likely scores, and who knows how the match unfolds after that?
Enner Valencia, Ecuador: B+
Valencia didn't play brilliantly on the night but did score with his best chance of the game. You can't ask much more of your best striker.
The United States defense did a poor job of closing down on Valencia. He had too much time to measure his shot, and as a result, Valencia produced an unstoppable swerving ball past Guzan. There was a question as to whether Valencia could carry his World Cup form over into the months after the tournament, and so far, he's proving his doubters wrong.
What's Next?
The United States wraps up this round of friendlies on Tuesday against Honduras. Klinsmann will likely want to see some more bite in the American attack.
Ecuador keeps it in CONCACAF for its next friendly, with El Salvador on tap for Tuesday.
