USMNT tops Senegal 3-2 as Pulisic ends long drought streak

USMNT beat Senegal 3-2 in Charlotte, with Christian Pulisic ending a 21-game drought and Folarin Balogun supplying the winner, as Mauricio Pochettino prioritized lessons over the scoreline.

The U.S. surged ahead 2-0 through Sergiño Dest and Pulisic before Sadio Mané punished slack defending with a quick brace to level it. Timothy Weah’s cross found substitute Balogun in the 63rd minute for the decisive goal.

Results in late-May friendlies do not carry tournament equity, but momentum matters after two sobering defeats in March. “It’s important to get good feelings and we are still a little bit short in our preparation, but I think we are going in a good direction,” Pochettino said post-match.

Pulisic ends drought, drives the attack

Pulisic’s barren run had stretched to 21 games for club and country since Dec. 28. He broke it with a composed finish in the 20th minute, rounding keeper Mory Diaw and scoring from a tight angle.

Before that, he was involved in the opener: released down the left by Ricardo Pepi in the seventh minute, his cutback was hammered home by Dest. Pulisic’s celebration — a roar and drop to his knees — hinted at the weight lifted. “I felt great. I was excited,” he said. “It felt good to just kind of get that one and yeah, just ready for a big summer ahead now.”

His role on the left-side pocket worked, aided by clean combinations with Pepi and overlapping runs from Antonee Robinson. That chemistry contrasted with the isolation he has often faced at AC Milan, where his link with Rafael Leão has not consistently clicked.

Backline remains unsettled after shaky moments

Defensive questions linger. The March window raised alarms, and Senegal again exposed gaps, with Mané capitalizing on errors to erase a two-goal deficit.

Pochettino’s choice between a four- or five-man backline remains live. The attack produced patterns — Weah’s delivery for Balogun, Dest’s early strike, and Pulisic’s left-channel influence — but the defensive structure still wobbled under pressure.

Learning while winning is preferable, and this fit the bill. Yet the tape will show recoveries and spacing that need tightening before higher-stakes fixtures.

Health and timeline guide selection choices

Availability remains a priority. “The aim is for everyone to be ready on June 12, not necessarily May 31,” Pochettino indicated, and the squad appeared to exit without major issues.

Rotations reflected that timeline, with Balogun impacting from the bench and minutes shared across the front line. The staff now balances continuity with fitness as decisions firm up.

The headline is a 3-2 win; the substance is clearer roles for Pulisic and the left flank, plus a reminder that the defensive shape is still a work in progress. The next steps hinge on backline selection and maintaining the attacking connections that surfaced here.