Ecuador handed the USA a 1-0 defeat at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday night.
Jaime Ayovi scored the decisive goal for Ecuador when he rose above defender Tim Ream to head home a cross from his cousin Walter Ayovi.
The result leaves USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann with just one win from his first five games in charge, and with a goals scored tally of two in five. His teams offensive inability must be of huge concern for Klinsmann who is noted for his attacking style of play.
The Americans started with a front pair of Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, but the pair were bottled up very well by the Ecuador defensive pairing of Fricson Erazo and Eduardo Morante.
The first half saw both defenses very much on top, with the first clear chance coming as Ecuador winger Jefferson Montero skipped past Steve Cherundolo before firing wide.
The most notable chances for the Americans were a well saved effort from Brek Shea, and Dempsey volleying over the bar just three minutes before the break.
Altidore suffered a head injury during the first half when he collided with Edison Mendez, and was substituted at half-time for hometown favorite Juan Agudelo.
DeMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley and Jonathan Spector were also introduced at the interval by Klinsmann, but the Americans continued to struggle when it came to creating genuine goal scoring opportunities.
The impressive Montero went close again on the hour mark, before the deadlock was broken in the 79th minute. Left back Walter Ayovi floated over a cross, and Jaime Ayovi beat Ream to plant the ball past Tim Howard.
Ream had only been on the field seven minutes, and the goal was one of many defensive errors that has seen him take criticism this season from many fans, and also Red Bulls teammate Rafa Marquez.
Ecuador closed out the win without any major threats, and leave Klinsmann still scratching his head with regards to creating a significant offensive threat for his team.
LINEUPS
USA – Howard, Chandler, Bocanegra (Ream), Onyewu, Cherundolo (Spector), Beckerman, Edu (Bradley), Shea (Beasley), Dempsey, Williams (Buddle), Altidore (Agudelo).
ECU – Banguera, W Ayovi, Erazo, Morante, Achilier, Montero (J Ayovi), Mendez (Saritama), Castillo, Valencia (Suarez), Arroyo (Paredes), Benitez (Campos).
SCORING SUMMARY
ECU – Jaime Ayovi (Walter Ayovi) 79’
The result leaves USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann with just one win from his first five games in charge, and with a goals scored tally of two in five. His teams offensive inability must be of huge concern for Klinsmann who is noted for his attacking style of play.
The Americans started with a front pair of Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, but the pair were bottled up very well by the Ecuador defensive pairing of Fricson Erazo and Eduardo Morante.
The first half saw both defenses very much on top, with the first clear chance coming as Ecuador winger Jefferson Montero skipped past Steve Cherundolo before firing wide.
The most notable chances for the Americans were a well saved effort from Brek Shea, and Dempsey volleying over the bar just three minutes before the break.
Altidore suffered a head injury during the first half when he collided with Edison Mendez, and was substituted at half-time for hometown favorite Juan Agudelo.
DeMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley and Jonathan Spector were also introduced at the interval by Klinsmann, but the Americans continued to struggle when it came to creating genuine goal scoring opportunities.
The impressive Montero went close again on the hour mark, before the deadlock was broken in the 79th minute. Left back Walter Ayovi floated over a cross, and Jaime Ayovi beat Ream to plant the ball past Tim Howard.
Ream had only been on the field seven minutes, and the goal was one of many defensive errors that has seen him take criticism this season from many fans, and also Red Bulls teammate Rafa Marquez.
Ecuador closed out the win without any major threats, and leave Klinsmann still scratching his head with regards to creating a significant offensive threat for his team.
LINEUPS
USA – Howard, Chandler, Bocanegra (Ream), Onyewu, Cherundolo (Spector), Beckerman, Edu (Bradley), Shea (Beasley), Dempsey, Williams (Buddle), Altidore (Agudelo).
ECU – Banguera, W Ayovi, Erazo, Morante, Achilier, Montero (J Ayovi), Mendez (Saritama), Castillo, Valencia (Suarez), Arroyo (Paredes), Benitez (Campos).
SCORING SUMMARY
ECU – Jaime Ayovi (Walter Ayovi) 79’
