Landon Donovan has suited up for the United States for the final time. He was given a big sendoff in a friendly against Ecuador on Friday night, where the USMNT drew 1-1, unfortunately losing the victory to a late stunner by Enner Valencia.
3 things we learned from the USA’s 1-1 draw with Ecuador
The United States drew Ecuador in a game where Jurgen Klinsmann got some valuable information, in addition to giving Landon Donovan a sendoff.
Mikkel Diskerud gave the U.S. the lead just five minutes into the game, getting Donovan's swan song off to a brilliant start. Donovan was involved in the build-up to the goal, which was finished off by DeAndre Yedlin pulling the ball back to the top of the box for Diskerud to score with a first time shot from 12 yards.
Not long afterwards, the United States were forced into an early change due to an injury. Joe Gyau hurt his knee trying to make a cut, and was replaced by Bobby Wood in the 21st minute.
The plan was to give Donovan 30 minutes, but Jurgen Klinsmann left him in a bit long in an attempt to find him a goal before he exited. He went close on three occasions -- with his best effort hitting the post in the 25th minute -- but couldn’t find the back of the net despite all of his teammates’ efforts to set him up. In the 40th minute, he was substituted to a standing ovation.
Ecuador was dangerous in the first half, but couldn’t find the back of the net before the break. Brad Guzan had to come up with a few big saves to keep his team on top, with his best coming on Walter Ayovi at the end of the first half.
The U.S. were well on top until the hour mark, when Klinsmann opted to make three substitutions, switching out his two center backs and a defensive midfielder. Unsurprisingly, the Americans looked a bit disorganized after this, especially since Ecuador kept the same unit together until very late in the match.
In the 89th minute, Valencia uncorked a shot from 25 yards that swerved in the opposite direction that Guzan anticipated, causing him to look a bit silly when the ball hooked into the back of the net while he was diving the other way. It was a brilliant goal, and ultimately, probably a deserved one for the visitors.
United States: Guzan, Garza, Orozco (Ream 21’), Brooks (Gonzalez 62’), Chandler, Diskerud, Bedoya (Morales 62’), Gyau (Wood 21’), Donovan (Corona 40’), Yedlin, Altidore (Wondolowski 76’)
Goals: Diskerud (5’)
Ecuador: Banguera, Erazo (Leon 86’), Paredes, Canga, Ayovi, Ibarra (Gonzalez 44’), Noboa, Penilla (Plata 46’), Cazares (Somoza 86’), Castillo (Gruezo 86’), Valencia
Goals: Valencia (89’)
3 things
1. Mix Diskerud’s versatility is huge - In his younger days, Mikkel Diskerud was presumed to be a possible No. 10 of the future for the United States. And he might still be that, but he’s proven that he can play box-to-box and deep-lying playmaker roles as well, in lots of different formations, and in both two- and three-man midfields. He looked comfortable going both ways on Friday night, without a true DM behind him, and chipped in with a goal even though he had defensive responsibilities.
2. Let’s hope Joe Gyau is okay - In just a few months, Joe Gyau has gone from possible early washout to budding USMNT star. Between his first USMNT appearance and his breaking into the Borussia Dortmund first team, his career’s been on a seriously upward trajectory. If his knee injury is serious, it’s going to halt all that, and it’s come at the absolute worst time.
3. DeAndre Yedlin is a winger - It’s not just that DeAndre Yedlin is incredibly fast and can cross. He does absolutely everything a coach could ever want from an attacking winger. His assist in this game came from a calm pullback pass in the box and he set up chances with crosses from deep, from the byline, lofted passes, through balls, and so on. He did everything. He didn’t have one big move or a crutch he leaned on. He was a star.
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