Folarin Balogun looks to be picking up steam at an important time for the U.S. men’s national team. Balogun scored in his second-straight start for the USMNT in Friday’s 1-1 home draw vs. CONMEBOL opponents Ecuador. The USMNT forward played 81 minutes atop Mauricio Pochettino’s formation, netting his seventh international goal in the process. Balogun was denied the opening goal in the eighth minutes thanks to Hernan Galindez’s save, but the Monaco forward kept working. He was later rewarded in the second half when Balogun got on the end of Malik Tillman’s pass and redirected it into the back of the net. With two goals in his last two appearances, Balogun is starting to move himself ahead of the pack in the USMNT’s No. 9 race. “He is so hard to track when he uses his speed to get behind,” USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie told TNT about Balogun during a postmatch interview. “He was holding possession very well. It gives a lot of relief for us. He did a really good job tonight.”Balogun not only delivered the USMNT’s equalizer, but he provided a lot of hard work without the ball too. His relentless running and abilities to hold up possession helped ease pressure off of the USMNT backline, who at times were under continuous pressure by the Ecuadoran attack.One thing’s for sure, the 24-year-old’s USMNT teammates are noticing the amount of work he puts in for the team, which will only boost his chances of remaining a consistent starter in Pochettino’s squad. “He was all over the place tonight,” Ream said in an interview with U.S. Soccer. “Ball into feet, balls in behind, his darting runs that he can make, battling with a center back who’s bigger than him, which he’s added to his game. He was full of running all night long and gave everyone an option whenever they had the ball. “That’s what we need from our striker,” Ream added. “And he gets his reward with a goal. A really good performance from him. Full of energy, full of running and smart, very, very smart with and without the ball. That’s two goals in two games for him. Long may that continue.”