International Soccer
Pulisic dominates in USMNT win against Senegal
Christian Pulisic returned to form on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, contributing a goal and an assist in the USMNT’s 3-2 victory over Senegal. Sergiño Dest opened the scoring and Folarin Balogun bagged the winner, helping the USMNT bounce back from a winless March window.
Mauricio Pochettino’s squad lined up in a 3-4-3 formation with Union homegrown and Bear, Delaware native Mark McKenzie in the center of the back three. Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna started underneath striker Ricardo Pepi as attacking midfielders, and Matt Turner replaced Matt Freese in net. The USMNT faced a strong Senegal team, coming off a successful campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations. The African powerhouse has been difficult to beat recently, losing only once in their last ten matches going into Sunday’s game.
The USMNT started the match out on the front foot, opening the scoring in the 7th minute. Ricardo Pepi received the ball from the midfield before turning his man and finding Pulisic in space. Pulisic dribbled to the end line and crossed low to Dest, who finished confidently to put USMNT ahead 1-0. The Americans doubled their lead in the 20 th minute with a goal set up by Pepi once again. Alex Freeman dribbled the ball into midfield, and Pepi checked towards Freeman before peeling off on a run in behind, losing his defender. Freeman played Pepi in through the defense, and Pepi squared to Pulisic, who was rushing forward down the left. Pulisic rounded Senegal keeper Mory Diaw before passing the ball into the net for his first goal since December.
Despite a mostly dominant opening half, USMNT switched off right at the end, when an Antonee Robinson turnover led to a Senegal goal by Sadio Mané. The 44th minute goal from the Liverpool legend was another goal conceded just before halftime by USMNT, continuing a theme seen in recent matches against Belgium and Uruguay. Still, USMNT carried a 2-1 lead into halftime.
Pochettino took advantage of the friendly rules at halftime; making 10 changes, Pochettino replaced every starter except for Sebastian Berhalter. Chris Brady made his USMNT debut, replacing Turner in net. McKenzie came off, and fellow Union homegrown Auston Trusty came in. The Americans started the second half flying once again when Folarin Balogun cashed in from a Malik Tillman pass in the 48 th minute, but the goal was chalked off for offside and the score remained 2-1.
Senegal levelled the score in the 52 nd minute following a disastrous moment in the American defense. Trusty won the ball, passing back to Miles Robinson. Robinson dawdled on the ball before attempting to pass back to Brady, but Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson tackled the ball away. The loose ball bounced towards goal. Brady came off his line to claim it, but was beat by Jackson, who lifted the ball over Brady. Robinson tried to recover to clean up his mess, but could only clear the ball into Mané, and the ball ricocheted into the net. Mané claimed his second goal, levelling the score at 2-2.
The USMNT looked to have a third goal in the 62 nd minute, but it was ruled out once again. Balogun failed to control a ball in the box, and as it rolled away from him, he attempted to shield it from Senegal player Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Malik Tillman latched on to the loose ball and fired it home, wheeling away in celebration. However, the referee called a foul on Balogun for obstructing Sapoko Ndiaye, and the score remained 2-2.
Just a minute later, the USMNT finally found their second half breakthrough. Tim Weah was released down the right flank, and he pulled back a low cross into the box. A Senegal defender attempted to clear, but could only take the pace off the ball, settling it perfectly for Balogun who finished into the bottom left. Balogun finally had his goal, continuing his red-hot form in 2026.
Despite numerous chances to add a fourth goal, the USMNT could not convert their chances and instead looked to kill the game off from the 85 th minute onwards. The three goals proved to be enough for a win, earning a gutsy victory in their penultimate match before the World Cup.
Union homegrowns McKenzie and Trusty both logged 45 minutes, while Brenden Aaronson and Matt Freese were unused substitutes.
The USMNT play their final match before the World Cup begins on Saturday, June 6th in Chicago against Germany at 2:30 p.m. Their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign will kick off in Los Angeles on June 12th at 9 p.m. against Paraguay.
