International round-up (Summer Part 3)

Away from the European football championships, it was a case of better the devil you know as three of Los murciélagos squared off against each other in Montevideo as Uruguay hosted the USA in an international friendly. Young midfielder Yunus Musah was once again handed a starting role for the visitors, his 8th cap at just 18 years old, while the hosts named both Maxi Gómez and Nicolás De La Cruz in their starting XI.

Visitors USA raced into a 2-0 lead at the Estadio Centenario inside the opening 10 minutes, with Christian Pulisic opening the scoring before Gyasi Zardes doubled the lead. This seemed to spur Uruguay into life, and on the half hour they pulled one back, before on the stroke of half-time Valencia winger De La Cruz found the net for his country to make it all square. It proved to be the last goal of the game, as they second half was played out at a less explosive pace, Maxi Gómez also being replaced on the hour mark.

Elsewhere, veteran defender Antonio Valencia also found himself on the scoresheet as Ecuador lost 3-2 against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. In a game that flowed back and forth, Patrick Bamford gave Ireland the lead before Campana leveled for the visitors 6 minutes later. After the break, Troy Parrott scored his 4th international goal in just 5 appearances, before Antonio Valencia once again pulled Ecuador level from the spot. The last word was left to John Egan, the Sheffield United defender grabbing the winner for the hosts in the last 20 minutes of the game.