Christian Pulisic ended a nearly six-month goal drought on Sunday, scoring and assisting as the United States beat Senegal 3-2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The win kicks off the US's World Cup preparations in front of 57,741 fans at the first of two send-off matches.
Pulisic set up Sergiño Dest for the opener after a 10-pass move, then scored himself in the 19th minute with a deft first touch and angled finish. The performance was a marked improvement on March's losses to Portugal and Belgium, offering optimism for a team that had struggled for form.
However, defensive frailties persisted. Sadio Mané scored twice for Senegal, first after an errant pass from Antonee Robinson, then from a Miles Robinson back-pass error early in the second half. The US have now conceded within 10 minutes of half-time in three consecutive friendlies.
Folarin Balogun scored the winner in the 62nd minute, finishing after Weston McKennie pressed Senegal's defence. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino made wholesale changes at half-time, including introducing goalkeeper Chris Brady, who failed to impress after being beaten by Mané's second goal.
The match highlighted ongoing selection dilemmas, particularly in goal, where neither Matt Turner nor Brady has seized the starting role. Gio Reyna made his first start since November 2025, while Pulisic's return to form provides a boost ahead of the World Cup on home soil.
