Pulisic Ends Goal Drought as USMNT Edge Senegal 3-2 in First World Cup Tune-Up

The United States men's national team delivered an eyebrow-raising **3-2 win over Senegal** in Charlotte on Saturday, the first of two warm-up matches before the World Cup kicks off on home soil — and the headline belonged to a relieved **Christian Pulisic**.

Pulisic had not scored for club or country since December 28, a barren run spanning 21 games. He ended it in the 20th minute, latching onto a through ball from Ricardo Pepi, rounding the goalkeeper and finishing from a tight angle. The captain let out an emotional roar and fell to his knees in celebration — a release of pressure that had clearly been weighing on him. It was his first goal-and-assist outing since June 2024, and he earned an 8/10 in post-match ratings.

The US raced to a 2-0 lead through Sergiño Dest and Pulisic before Sadio Mané dragged Senegal level with two goals. Substitute **Folarin Balogun** settled it in the 63rd minute with what proved the winner. The end-to-end nature of the match flattered the scoreline and exposed defensive frailties that coach Mauricio Pochettino will want resolved quickly.

Because it was a friendly, Pochettino used the night to test combinations and experiment with positions without tipping his hand. The momentum is welcome, but the soft goals conceded underline that the US back line remains a work in progress. Next up is a far sterner test: four-time world champions Germany on Saturday.

For a host nation under enormous pressure to perform, a winning result and a rediscovered talisman are exactly what the doctor ordered. But with the tournament now days away, Pochettino knows tune-ups are about more than results — they are the last chance to build the resilience a deep run will demand.