Christian Pulisic shines as US kick off World Cup preparations with 3-2 win over Senegal The United States men’s national team ended a nearly six-month goal drought for Christian Pulisic with a 3-2 victory over Senegal on Sunday, marking a pivotal moment in their World Cup preparations. The match, played in Charlotte, North Carolina, saw Pulisic score and assist in a dynamic first half, helping the Americans break a streak of poor form that had plagued them since their two March losses to Portugal and Belgium. The win, which came ahead of their final tune-up against Germany on June 6 in Chicago, offered a glimmer of optimism for a team that had struggled to find consistency in recent international fixtures. Pulisic’s resurgence was central to the US’s success. Just 19 minutes into the game, he received a through ball from Ricardo Pepi, who had been instrumental throughout his 45-minute cameo, and calmly finished with a right-footed angled shot to put the US ahead 2-0. His influence extended beyond that goal, as he set up Sergiño Dest for the opener in a sequence that showcased the team’s attacking cohesion. Dest, who had been a key figure in the US’s recent friendly victories, headed home the assist after receiving a precise cross from Pulisic, who had tracked back to find the wing-back in a perfectly timed run. This goal marked Pulisic’s first international assist since September 2025, when he contributed to a 2-0 win over Japan. Despite the offensive fireworks, the US’s defensive vulnerabilities remained a concern. Senegal’s Sadio Mané, a key player for the Lions of Teranga, capitalized on defensive lapses to equalize just before halftime and then strike again shortly after the break.#christian_pulisic #mauricio_pochettino #sadio_man #ricardo_pepi #sergio_dest
