Pulisic ends drought and Pepi shines as USMNT beat Senegal

Mauricio Pochettino pointed to Paraguay, Uruguay and Sunday’s match as the three games that show the team the way he wants them to play, saying, “I think now, it's about seeing the reality.” The 3-2 win in Charlotte served as a useful World Cup tune-up: confidence-boosting, imperfect and full of things the staff will still want to fix.

Christian Pulisic finally found the net, a finish that drew visible relief. “It felt great,” he said after his first goal of the calendar year and his first with the national team since 2024, a composed round-and-slot off a pass from Ricardo Pepi. Pepi was a creative spark himself, supplying the plays that led to both US goals; as he put it, “I think super important [to start strong].” Sergino Dest also contributed, tapping in a Pulisic setup and enjoying moments of confident dribbling.

Not every individual benefited from the evening. Miles Robinson’s giveaway early in the second half allowed Sadio Mané back into the game, a lapse the US paid for at a crucial moment.

United States, Charlotte

christian pulisic, ricardo pepi, mauricio pochettino, usmnt, senegal, charlotte, world cup, sergino dest, miles robinson, sadio mané