The United States Men's National Team defeated Ecuador 1-0 on Wednesday in a Copa America Centenario tune-up match at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Sporting Kansas City winger Graham Zusi started and played 87 minutes, while defender Matt Besler came off the bench in the 77th minute to help seal the shutout victory.
Zusi earned his 34th cap in the international friendly, joining a three-pronged attack alongside Clint Dempsey and Gyasi Zardes. Besler was introduced as a 77th-minute substitute, collecting his 32nd cap as the United States limited an Ecuador side ranked 12th in the latest FIFA rankings to just three total shot attempts.
Halftime substitute Darlington Nagbe scored the game-winner in the 90th minute, settling a headed pass from Bobby Wood and slotting low into the back of the net for his first international goal.
Zusi was the only player in Wednesday's contest to create multiple scoring chances. The four-time MLS All-Star teed up a long-range strike from Jermaine Jones in the 59th minute before bursting into the box and crossing low for Alejandro Bedoya, who fired narrowly wide from a tight angle in the 71st minute.
The U.S. will continue their Copa America preparations Saturday at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, facing Bolivia in one final friendly before kicking off the tournament June 3 against Colombia. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on FS1, UniMas and Univision Deportes and tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com while supplies last.
U.S. MNT COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO SCHEDULE
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Time (CT) / TV</strong> |
<strong>Venue</strong> |
June 3 |
Colombia |
8:30 / FS1 |
Levi's Stadium<br>
Santa Clara, CA |
June 7 |
Costa Rica |
7:00 / FS1 |
Soldier Field<br>
Chicago, IL |
June 11 |
Paraguay |
6:00 / FS1 |
Lincoln Financial Field<br>
Philadelphia, PA |
The Copa America Centenario is a marquee international tournament headlined by the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, featuring 16 nations from CONMEBOL (South America) and CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean). The competition is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of CONMEBOL and the Copa America, and will be the first edition of the prestigious tournament played outside of South America. Ten U.S. cities will host the event from June 3-26 as the Yanks make their fourth Copa America appearance (1993, 1995, 2007).
