USMNT builds World Cup momentum by beating Senegal...
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- U.S. men's national team defeated Senegal 3‑2 in a friendly in Charlotte, N.C., with goals from Sergiño Dest, Christian Pulisic, and Folarin Balogun.
- Christian Pulisic ended a 21‑game goal drought (since Dec. 28) by scoring twice, including a 20th‑minute finish after a pass from Ricardo Pepi.
- Mauricio Pochettino said the win provided a morale boost but emphasized that the defense still showed shaky moments and needs improvement.
- U.S. defense allowed Sadio Mané to equalize twice, exposing lapses that the coach wants to correct before the World Cup.
- Folarin Balogun came on as a substitute and scored the winning goal in the 63rd minute from a Timothy Weah cross.
Why it matters: The U.S. team gains confidence as Pulisic breaks a 21‑game scoring drought, boosting morale ahead of the June 12 World Cup opener; the defensive lapses still risk conceding goals in future matches.
