USMNT Tops Ecuador 1-0 On 90th Minute Goal

The U.S. Men’s National Team used Darlington Nagbe’s 90th minute strike and first international goal to earn a 1-0 victory against Ecuador in its second warm-up match ahead of the upcoming Copa America Centenario.

After a first half that lacked chances, the MNT controlled the run of play in the second half, as Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya both had opportunities to find the score sheet. Just as it looked like the game would end in a 0-0 deadlock, Nagbe finished headed pass from Bobby Wood in the penalty area to tally his first international goal and give the U.S. a 1-0 victory.

The MNT continues preparations for this summer’s Copa America Centenario on Sat., May 28 when it meets a second South American foe in Bolivia at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on FS1, UniMas and UDN

• Clint Dempsey made his 123rd international appearance, tying him with DaMarcus Beasley for fifth on the MNT’s all-time caps list. He sits four back of Marcelo Balboa (127) for fourth place.
• Darlington Nagbe scored his first international goal, coming in his fifth international appearance.

• The win improves the MNT’s all-time record against Ecuador to 3-5-5.
• With the result, the MNT remains unbeaten in Frisco, Texas, holding a 2-0-2 all-time record at Toyota Stadium.
• Named the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. at Copa America Centenario, goalkeeper Brad Guzan earned his 14th career shutout and second of 2016.
• The USA has scored in the 89th minute or later in four of five matches this year with all four matches ending up in the win column: Steve Birnbaum vs. Iceland; Jozy Altidore vs. Canada and vs. Guatemala; Nagbe vs. Ecuador
• MNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann started a back four consisting of DeAndre Yedlin at right back, Steve Birnbaum and John Brooks as the central pair and Fabian Johnson on the left.
• The midfield trio featured Jermaine Jones on the right, Kyle Beckerman in the holding central role and captain Michael Bradley on the left.
• Klinsmann deployed a three-man forward line that positioned Clint Dempsey as the central striker, with Graham Zusi and Gyasi Zardes deployed on the right and left, respectively.