USA vs. Ecuador, International Friendly: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, and Match Thread

Welcome to your live thread as the United States Men National Team takes on Ecuador at Orlando City Stadium tonight at 8 p.m. (ESPN2). The U.S. won the first two games of the calendar year, and Gregg Berhalter looks to continue his undefeated run. 

Berhalter called up a strong squad to face La Tricolor. Zack Steffen was forced to withdraw from the U.S. camp because of a “minor right knee injury.” The strikers on this team are also all second options. Josh Sargent and Timothy Weah are with the U.S. U-23s instead, and Bobby Wood and Jozy Altidore did not receive a call-up. Both Wood and Altidore will continue to play a role in the national team picture though. One of the reasons for this is that Berhalter didn’t want to make too many changes from his January camp. 

“We thought it was important to tie some of the themes of the last camp into this next camp and to have some consistency in the personnel made a lot of sense,” Berhalter said. “Again, we still think we’re able to evaluate a new group of players, and we think that is going to be valuable as we move into the Gold Cup.”

Of the players in the current camp, 13 were also called up in January. This is a more senior roster than has been seen since before the U.S. failed to qualify for the World Cup. Veteran players like Michael Bradley, DeAndre Yedlin, Omar Gonzalez, and John Brooks have returned. Their experience — 284 combined caps — will be vital in helping the younger players. Additionally, goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez is the only player yet to earn an international cap. 

The U.S. and Ecuador have played each other 14 times, and La Tricolor hold the slight advantage in the all-time series, 5-4-5. However, the Yanks have only lost once in the past six matches. 

The teams last faced each other in the 2016 Copa America. With Jürgen Klinsmann coaching the team, the Americans got goals from Gyasi Zardes and Clint Dempsey to win, 2-1. Brooks started at center back, with Bradley captioning the side. This win propelled the U.S. into the semifinals. 

Rosters

USA (Caps/Goals)

Goalkeepers (3): 12-Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas; 0/0), 22-Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge/BEL; 3/0), 1-Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 6/0).

Defenders (8): 5-John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 36/3), 3-Omar Gonzalez (Atlas/MEX; 48/3), 24-Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 2/0), 23-Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 4/0), 16-Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact; 2/0), 19-Matt Miazga (Reading, ENG; 11/1), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham, ENG; 26/1), 2-DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United, ENG; 57/0).

Midfielders (7): 14-Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig, GER; 9/1), 4-Michael Bradley (Toronto FC, CAN; 143/17), 17-Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 7/2), 8-Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 7/1), 10-Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 23/9), 15-Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 7/0), 6-Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 13/0).

Forwards (6): 7-Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 19/3), 20-Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 2/0), 18-Jonathan Lewis (New York City FC; 2/0), 11-Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 25/5), 21-Christian Ramirez (LAFC; 2/1), 9-Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 42/6).

Ecuador (Caps/Goals)

Goalkeepers (3): Maximo Banguera (Barcelona; 35/0), Alexander Domínguez (Velez Sarsfield/ARG; 47/0), Pedro Ortiz (Delfín; 0/0).

Defenders (8): Gabriel Achilier (Morelia/MEX; 38/1), Xavier Arreaga (Barcelona; 1/0), Beder Caicedo (Barcelona; 2/0), John Narváez (Melgar/PER; 2/0), Juan Carlos Paredes (Emelec; 73/0), Ángelo Preciado (Independiente del Valle; 4/0), Jackson Porozo (Santos/BRA; 0/0), Cristian Ramirez (Krasnodar/RUS; 18/1).

Midfielders (8): Carlos Gruezo (FC Dallas/USA; 20/0), Renato Ibarra (Club América/MEX; 37/1), Romario Ibarra (Minnesota United FC/USA; 6/3), Jefferson Intriago (LDU Quito; 4/0), Jhegson Méndez (Orlando City SC/USA; 5/0), Jefferson Orejuela (LDU Quito; 12/0), Ayrton Preciado (Santos Laguna/MEX; 9/0), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United/ENG; 93/11).

Forwards (4):  Leonardo Campana (Barcelona; 0/0), Ángel Mena (Club León/MEX; 9/3), Jhohan Julio (LDU Quito; 0/0), Enner Valencia (Tigres UANL/MEX; 46/27).

How to Watch

Match Time: 8 p.m. (ET).

Venue: Orlando City Stadium — Orlando, FL.

TV: ESPN2, UDN.

Streaming: Watch ESPN, Univision NOW, Fubo TV

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @StarsStripesFC, @ussoccer_mnt, and @TheManeLand.

Match Thread Rules

This is your live thread for posting comments on the match. So use our comments section below to talk about the game in real time with other supporters. If you’re new, welcome to our happy home! While you’re here, please observe a few basic rules:

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Enjoy the match! Go America!