Pulisic Shines as USMNTs…

Christian Pulisic scored one goal and assisted another in the first half, leading the U.S. men’s national team to a 3-2 friendly victory on Sunday against Senegal at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Folarin Balogun secured the win with a second-half goal.

Pulisic assisted Sergiño Dest for the opening goal and added one himself shortly after, putting the U.S. up 2-0. However, Sadio Mané scored two goals for Senegal to bring the score to 2-2 in a chaotic second half.

This match was the first of two friendlies for the U.S., which will take on four-time FIFA World Cup champions Germany on Saturday. Here’s how the players performed in the match against one of Africa’s top teams as the World Cup approaches.

Manager Rating (out of 10)

Mauricio Pochettino, 7 — Overall, Pochettino’s decisions were mostly effective. While there were some questions about certain choices, the match confirmed that several players appeared comfortable in their respective roles.

Player Ratings (0-10; 10 = best; 5 = average)

GK Matt Turner, 5 — Turner had a quiet game until the last 15 minutes when Senegal began pressing hard. His most significant moment was coming out of the net to challenge Mané without fouling. He made a few critical saves before Mané scored, making it 2-1.

DF Alex Freeman, 5 — Although he was beaten by Mané in the play that forced Turner to intervene, he contributed to the build-up that led to Ricardo Pepi‘s goal and showed good recovery ability following defensive errors.

DF Mark McKenzie, 5 — McKenzie demonstrated solid consistency in central defense, interrupting Senegal’s passes effectively. However, he also made a wayward pass that led to a turnover.

DF Tim Ream, 3 — Ream struggled at home, often getting caught out by Senegal’s pressing game. His inaccurate passes contributed to counterattacks, including one that almost allowed Nicolas Jackson to score. He was out of position for Mané’s first goal, putting Tyler Adams in a tough spot.

DF Antonee Robinson, 7 — Robinson built a strong connection with Pulisic on the left flank, utilized his passing range effectively, and disrupted passing lanes. He did have one turnover that led to a Senegal counter, but overall, he had a strong performance.

MF Sebastian Berhalter, 5 — Berhalter had some shaky moments in the first half, including a foul that set up a dangerous free kick and a loss of positioning late in the first half that led to a Senegal counter. However, he found better footing as the second half progressed.

MF Tyler Adams, 5 — Adams facilitated possession effectively and participated in the defensive press. He had one misstep that nearly led to a counter, but on the whole, he maintained solid contributions.

FW Sergiño Dest, 7 — Dest showcased his versatility, contributing on both ends of the pitch. His opening goal in the seventh minute highlighted his ability to find space. He nearly registered an assist by setting up Pepi for a shot that was blocked just before the half.

FW Giovanni Reyna, 4 — Reyna was somewhat involved but did not stand out compared to his teammates. He made a notable throw-in that almost created a scoring opportunity, but his contributions were minimal overall.

FW Christian Pulisic, 8 — Pulisic was undoubtedly the standout player for the U.S., providing an assist for Dest’s goal before scoring one himself. It marked the first time since June 2024 that he registered both a goal and an assist. He was a constant threat every time he had the ball, especially working well with Robinson.

FW Ricardo Pepi, 7 — Pepi’s first start since November 2024 was impressive, featuring solid hold-up play leading to Dest’s goal. He showed willingness to drop back and help defensively and pressed industriously for every ball.

Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes receive no rating)

GK Chris Brady (on for Turner, halftime), 4 — In his debut, Brady faced a tough situation with Mané’s second goal.

DF Joe Scally (on for Freeman, halftime), 5 — Scally made several contributions down the right flank and helped transition the ball into offensive positions.

DF Miles Robinson (on for McKenzie, halftime), 3 — Robinson struggled to retain possession, resulting in Senegal’s tying goal by Mané.

DF Auston Trusty (on for Ream, halftime), 5 — Trusty kept calm despite some openings for Senegal, contributing defensively.

DF Max Arfsten (on for Robinson, halftime), 5 — Arfsten was less involved than Robinson but still played his part in keeping Senegal from scoring again.

MF Weston McKennie (on for Adams, halftime), 6 — McKennie’s performance showcased his versatility across midfield, being active and coming close to scoring.

FW Alejandro Zendejas (on for Berhalter, 76′), NR — Zendejas applied pressure leading to a turnover and an attempt on goal, though it was blocked.

FW Timothy Weah (on for Dest, halftime), 6 — Weah’s key contribution was assisting Balogun’s winning goal with a well-placed cross.

MF Cristian Roldan (on for Reyna, halftime), 5 — Roldan nearly found the back of the net, but his shot flew high past the goal.

MF Malik Tillman (on for Pulisic, halftime), 6 — Tillman came close to scoring and assisting, both of which were disallowed, but he showed great potential in creating opportunities off the bench.

FW Folarin Balogun (on for Pepi, halftime), 7 — Balogun initially saw a goal denied but redeemed himself with a well-timed strike off Weah’s setup, ultimately securing the victory for the U.S.