After the United States missed out on the 2018 World Cup, it became evident that it was time to tear out the carpet and start from scratch when it came to building a competitive team. Jurgen Klinsmann was replaced by Gregg Berhalter, and he has been starting the youth movement that will hopefully lead the Stars and Stripes back to the World Cup in 2020. We will see whether some of that fruit is starting to bear when the USA takes on Ecuador in an international friendly on Thursday.
Don't miss this international friendly from Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Florida at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 21, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN2.
International Soccer Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
USA +119
Ecuador +233
Draw +230
Over/Under 2 and 2.5
Odds Analysis
Ecuador missed out on the 2018 World Cup too, but the Yellows are one of the top teams in the Americas. They have won each of their last four games on the North American continent, knocking off Jamaica and Guatemala in friendlies in September, and beating Peru and Panama in November. Ecuador allowed just one goal in those four matches and didn’t play any games on their home soil.
The US took on some of the best teams in the world after the World Cup, but the Stars and Stripes didn’t have much to show for their pluck. They went 1-1-4 in six matches with losses to Brazil, Colombia, England, and Italy, yet they did snare a draw with Peru and a win over Mexico. This team has fared better in 2019 with shutout wins over Panama and Costa Rica, but Ecuador are a significant step up.
Ecuador Player to Watch
Antonio Valencia is the player that most Americans are familiar with on Ecuador, but Enner Valencia is the best player on the team. He has been on fire for his club team, Tigres UANL in Liga MX, and he has more goals for Ecuador than the rest of their roster for this friendly combined.
There are no proven forwards aside from Valencia up front. Leonardo Campana and Jhohan Julio have yet to earn a cap, and Angel Mena has only played nine games with the team. Enner Valencia has 27 goals in 46 matches, and that makes him the one to keep an eye on.
United States Player to Watch
It would be easy to continually highlight Christian Pulisic since he is the future of the USMNT, but this team needs to develop a reliable striker to replace Clint Dempsey. Jordan Morris could be that player. Morris was lost for all of 2018 after tearing his ACL while playing for Seattle in February, but he has not missed a beat since his return.
Morris has three goals in three games with the Sounders, notching a brace against FC Cincinnati in the first week and following that up with a goal against Chicago last week. The young Morris is the second-most capped forward on the roster (behind Gyasi Zardes), and he already has five goals for the US.
Prop Bet – Over 2.5 Goals +112
Both teams want to win, but friendlies like these are more about finding out what you have. The US and Ecuador are looking for answers on the attack, and they will be more wont to press forward to see what they young attackers can do.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
This game is being played in the US, but it won’t have a particularly boisterous crowd. The American Outlaws will have some members there, but in this part of Florida, there is a huge Hispanic population that comes out to support international teams. I see this one being filled with chances and the final being a 2-2 draw where both sides are happy.
International Soccer Odds: USA 2, Ecuador 2
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