USMNT rides Christian Pulisic breakout to 3–2 win over Senegal in chaotic friendly
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With the U.S. World Cup opener rushing toward reality, Mauricio Pochettino wanted to see his team perform with solidarity and spirit in the penultimate tuneup Sunday. He wanted to see better performances — and secondarily, better results — than what he witnessed in the troubling March window.
Mostly, though, Pochettino wanted to get through the Bank of America Stadium friendly without any scratches before the second week of training camp back in Georgia.
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For the most part, he got what he wanted — and needed.
Charged by Christian Pulisic, who broke out of a five-month, 21-match scoring rut, the U.S. began in exceptional style and proceeded to defeat Senegal, 3-2, before an announced crowd of 57,741.
“We are conscious now about things we need to prove, things we were talking from nearly one year and a half [ago],” Pochettino said. “Now it’s about seeing the reality. When you talk and you talk and you talk, sometimes it’s difficult to accept what you’re telling them. Today is a good point. We saw the commitment of everyone there.”
Pulisic — the face of a U.S. team preparing to host a World Cup for the first time in 32 years — assisted Sergiño Dest in the seventh minute and scored his own in the 20th for his first goal since AC Milan’s Serie A match on Dec. 28.
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“I’ve played really well in recent months, too, but all people seem to care about is goals,” said Pulisic, who hadn’t scored for the national team since November 2024. “Hopefully now people can stop talking about it. We’ve got big games ahead and I’ve got to be ready.”
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It was the type of performance from Pulisic, enacted with confidence and conviction, that Pochettino is going to need for a deep U.S. run in the 48-team competition.
The two-goal lead did evaporate in an eight-minute span bridging halftime, but Folarin Balogun, one of 10 U.S. halftime subs, restored the advantage in the 63rd minute.
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About half the projected World Cup starting lineup was on the field at the start, but because it was a friendly, Pochettino was able to test many others and experiment with positions and combinations while not tipping his hand ahead of the tournament.
Match preparations will continue Saturday against Germany in Chicago before the U.S. opens World Cup base camp in Irvine, California. All three Group D matches are on the West Coast, starting June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The outcome against World Cup-bound Lions of Teranga followed a lopsided loss to Belgium and a definitive setback against Portugal two months ago — matches that raised questions about the U.S. direction so close to the competition.
The U.S. men’s national team went up 2-0 early, but Senegal equalized before Folarin Balogun delivered the eventual game-winner in the second half.
(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)
Neither Pochettino nor his players expressed much concern, and after the roster announcement Tuesday, these friendlies were pegged to provide opportunity to build confidence, gain rhythm and feel comfortable in Pochettino’s plans.
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“We looked organized, the ball was flowing, everything looked smooth, guys looked confident – it’s exactly what you want going into a World Cup,” midfielder Tyler Adams said.
Emphasizing his team’s World Cup health and welfare, Pochettino said Saturday he would not “take risks or do things that put [the team at] risk.”
He also conceded, though, “Zero risk — impossible.”
He certainly was not going to risk Chris Richards, his best defender, who remained behind at the national training center near Atlanta to continue rehabilitating an ankle injury.
What was a bit concerning, however, was Pochettino saying the coming days will loom large in determining whether the Crystal Palace center back would be ready for the World Cup. Any roster changes must be made 24 hours before the opener.
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Without Richards, Pochettino placed Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie and Alex Freeman on the backline — an arrangement that freed typical fullbacks Dest and Antonee Robinson to get ahead on the wings.
Eight days after he was honored at this stadium with a bobblehead giveaway — and a day after Pochettino named him World Cup captain — Ream (Charlotte FC) received a rousing ovation.
Matt Turner, Matt Freese’s backup most of the past year, started in goal — the second consecutive window that Turner got the call in the first of two matches. At halftime, though, Pochettino inserted third-string Chris Brady to make his international debut. Freese is expected to start against Germany.
“Amazing possibility today for [Turner and Brady], and trying to see who is going to start [against] Paraguay,” Pochettino said.
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After missing three camps, Adams returned to his usual role in defensive midfield. Joining him was Sebastian Berhalter and Gio Reyna, who received his first starting assignment for club or country since December. Berhalter was the only U.S. player who didn’t leave at halftime; he yielded to Alex Zendejas in the 76th minute.
Striker Ricardo Pepi got the nod ahead of Balogun and Haji Wright.
Ranked No. 14 by FIFA, two slots ahead of the U.S., Senegal featured a frontline featuring former Liverpool star Sadio Mané; Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, who played on loan for Bayern Munich this season; and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye.
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At the start, the Americans were cool and clinical in possession — a precursor to Dest’s goal in the seventh minute. Patiently, they moved the ball forward and backward along the perimeter and into pockets of Senegal’s resistance.
Pepi unlocked things with a clever touch between two defenders, liberating Pulisic for a left-side run into the penalty area. Pulisic’s low cross was pure, connecting with Dest in stride for a simple, one-touch finish at the top of the 6-yard box.
After Jackson squandered Ndiye’s cross, the U.S. returned to its fluid ways.
The second goal went end to end, beginning with Turner, who tossed the ball to Dest. Cutting inside, Freeman slipped into space and collected the ball before sending it ahead to the free-running Pepi for a 2-on-1 with Pulisic.
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After rounding goalkeeper Mory Diaw, Pulisic tucked an angled shot into the net for his 33rd international goal.
“We played a very hungry American team,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. “The American team was very well organized, very well prepared. We are a team that likes to have the ball, and the Americans kept the ball away from us.”
The U.S. good times ended just before halftime. Miles Robinson’s giveaway in the attacking end facilitated Habib Diarra’s counterattack. Mane got inside Adams to one-time Diarra’s pass beyond Turner’s reach.
After wholesale halftime substitutions, U.S. mistakes led to Senegal’s equalizer. Jackson disrupted Miles Robinson’s back pass, sending the ball in Brady’s direction. Brady hesitated, allowing Jackson to lift it past him and then shoot. As the slow-rolling ball neared the line, Sané beat Miles Robinson to it before both tumbled into the netting.
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“It was a really good start, really strong start, but one thing for us is we want to be able to sustain that, understanding the moments, understanding how to ultimately put teams away,” McKenzie said. “We cooled off a bit, and you need to clear those things up.”
The new U.S. group responded. After he was called for a questionable foul that nullified Malik Tillman’s goal, Balogun broke the tie. McKennie and Tim Weah combined neatly on the right side before Weah’s cross tipped off a defender’s extended foot and fell to Balogun for an 11-yard one-timer.
The pressure continued, but on the same nutty sequence, McKennie hit the right post and Balogun the left.
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It was certainly not a complete performance, but it wasn’t bad either. And with the World Cup less than two weeks away, Pochettino and his players exited the stadium feeling a lot better about themselves.
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Kari Anderson
The USMNT overcomes a few disallowed goals and a few nervy final minutes to take the 3-2 win behind goals from Sergiño Dest, Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun.
A near-complete swap at halftime gave Pochettino the chance to look at plenty of different players ahead of setting his final World Cup starting lineup, with one more friendly against Germany next weekend before the tournament begins.
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Kari Anderson
Alex Zendejas, just minutes after subbing on, takes advantage of a bad giveaway from Senegal and sprints down the field, but Moustapha Mbow is able to get back and get the stop. Time is ticking down here but the U.S. is keeping up the offensive pressure.
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Kari Anderson
Sebastian Berhalter, the only player from the starting lineup who stayed on for the second half, has been subbed off by Pochettino with about 15 minutes left in the game. Alex Zendejas is on to replace him.
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Kari Anderson
So, so, so close for the U.S. there. Folarin Balogun gets a shot that lands right in the arms of keeper Mory Diaw, then Weston McKennie gets a shot that just hits the post. On the rebound, Balogun gets control to take another shot, but it’s saved by Diaw again, who sends it out of bounds.
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Kari Anderson
After a several key chances and a few goals taken back, Folarin Balogun finally gets the go-ahead goal. Timothy Weah gets a great ball into the box, and as the ball taps off the foot of a Senegalese defender, Balogun sends in a shot off the rebound. This one had no doubt.
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Kari Anderson
Malik Tillman appeared to get a go-ahead goal off a rebound from Folarin Balogun, who scrambles for the ball on the ground. There was some question as to whether a foul was committed in the box, but either way the goal has been disallowed. Things will stay even for now.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Kari Anderson
A brutal turn for the U.S., as Chris Brady comes off his line to face Sadio Mané, but Mané chips it over Brady and finds the equalizer. Miles Robinson tries to save it off the line but is too late, and the U.S. and Senegal are all tied up.
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Kari Anderson
This nearly-swapped out USMNT lineup got to work quickly. Just three minutes into the half, Malik Tillman stuck with the ball to send it to Folarin Balogun in the box, who then banks it in.
Unfortunately, the goal was disallowed after Balogun was ruled offsides when receiving Tillman’s pass. Would’ve been a dream start for this second half, but the U.S. will have to settle for a one-goal lead for now.
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Kari Anderson
Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady, the only uncapped player on the USMNT World Cup roster, is subbing in for Matt Turner at halftime. Brady’s U.S. debut seems to be less about Turner’s performance and more about getting him some in-game experience before the tournament actually starts.
In fact, Mauricio Pochettino opted to make a huge number of changes, taking off every player from the first half — 10 changes in all — except for Sebastian Berhalter, who stays on.
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Kari Anderson
The first half comes to a somewhat abrupt end, but it’s the United States up after a stellar half from Christian Pulisic.
The USMNT’s attack is looking strong, with passing progressions coming together well and two excellent goals to start things off. Pulisic pitches in an assist and a goal, with Sergiño Dest scoring and nearly adding a second just before the whistle blew. Ricardo Pepi also deserves a shout-out there: The forward was heavily involved in the run-up to both goals, hitting a perfectly weighted assist on Pulisic’s goal.
The defense, though, has a bit of work to do. Sadio Mané’s goal capped off a long stretch of pressure from Senegal before the USMNT finally folded. Now, the U.S. will have 45 minutes to hold or extend the lead
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Kari Anderson
Habib Diarra gets the running assist to Sadio Mané who slots it past Matt Turner and into the goal. That felt a bit inevitable for Senegal, who has been ramping up the pressure and breaking through the U.S. back line for the past ten minutes.
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Kari Anderson
Senegal is knocking on the door late in this first half, getting several key opportunities to score. There was a dangerous free kick outside the box, but it’s well defended by the U.S., who even starts to get a breakaway.
Iliman Ndiaye then broke away for a big chance with about ten minutes left in the half, and Nicolas Jackson had another potential run about five minutes later. Senegal has had three corner kicks in the past several minutes, keeping up the energy and the urgency while pushing against the USMNT’s defense.
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Kari Anderson
Close chance there for Antonee Robinson, who gets off a strong strike from outside the box, but Senegal defender Mamadou Sarr blocks it and sends it out for a corner. Robinson immediately bends over in frustration — so close.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Kari Anderson
Christian Pulisic finally — finally! — has a goal. The forward puts the USMNT up 2-0 with a gorgeous shot from near the end line.
Alex Freeman finds Ricardo Pepi, who hits a perfect ball in to Pulisic, who slices a shot back past Senegal keeper Mory Diaw. That breaks a five-month scoring drought for club and country, and also marks Pulisic’s first U.S. goal since 2024.
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Kari Anderson
That was awfully close for Senegal, who gets a very good chance at an equalizer after weaving through the U.S. back line. Nicolas Jackson’s shot goes high, though, and the USMNT holds the lead for now.
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Kari Anderson
Tensions are rising a little early, as Tyler Adams and Senegal captain Sadio Mané get in each other’s faces and their teams come over to support. Moments earlier, Mané had gotten tripped up in the box on a save from Matt Turner; it’s unclear if that contact was relevant to what Adams and Mané were talking about.
Either way, the referee gives them both a talking to and the game continues.
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