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Frisco, Texas • Darlington Nagbe scored his first international goal on a 90th-minute volley, and the United States beat Ecuador 1-0 in a Copa America tuneup on Wednesday night.
The U.S. defeated a South American team for just the third time in 21 tries (14 losses, 4 draws) since a March 2007 victory over Ecuador.
After a listless first half, the U.S. attack improved with the entry of Nagbe and Bobby Wood after the break and of 17-year-old Christian Pulisic in the 63rd minute.
Wood set up the goal with a headed pass to Nagbe, who chested the ball and then scored with a right-footed shot from about 8 yards that beat Esteban Dreer, who replaced injured starter Alexander Dominguez when the second half began.
Nagbe was making his fifth U.S. appearance. Born in Liberia, he made his debut in November shortly after becoming a citizen.
The Americans face Bolivia on Saturday in an exhibition at Kansas City, Kansas, then open the tournament against fourth-ranked Colombia on June 3 at Santa Clara, California..