Top News

Christian Pulisic returned to top form, Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun made strong impressions, and the United States Men's National Team gave fans plenty of optimism for the upcoming World Cup with an impressive showing against Senegal.

CHARLOTTE -- There’s an old saying: start the way you intend to continue. The U.S. Men's National Team did exactly that on Sunday against Senegal, and despite what the final score might suggest, they rarely looked in trouble. In what felt like their first real test on the road to the World Cup, the U.S. delivered the kind of start that will let them approach the next challenge with greater confidence.

After suffering defeats to two European giants, Belgium and Portugal, back in March, the USMNT bounced back with a 3-2 victory over the reigning AFCON champions, Senegal. The scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story — the Americans had several goals ruled out for narrow offside calls, and on another day, it could have been a far more convincing margin.

The action began early. Just seven minutes in, Christian Pulisic linked up with Ricardo Pepi before setting up Sergino Dest for the opener. Pulisic then got on the scoresheet himself in the 20th minute, ending his goal drought and silencing any doubts about his form. Apart from a single moment of danger when Sadio Mane pulled one back before the break, the U.S. maintained control of proceedings for most of the half.

After halftime, the U.S. made sweeping changes, introducing 10 new players. The overall pattern remained similar, though the defense looked a bit more uncertain. A misplaced pass from Miles Robinson gifted Mane Senegal’s second goal, but the Americans responded with intensity. They created numerous chances, hitting the post and finding the net multiple times, though only Balogun’s strike stood on the scoreboard.

In the end, it was a strong performance — not flawless, but highly encouraging. Defensive lapses still need attention, and the attack could be sharper when the competitive games begin. Still, Sunday provided exactly the kind of boost this team needed as they continue their World Cup preparations.

Here’s how the USMNT players rated at Bank of America Stadium:

Goalkeeper & Defense

Matt Turner (7/10): Produced several key saves, which must have felt rewarding after his last two outings for the national team. A definite confidence-boosting display.

Antonee Robinson (6/10): Defended solidly overall, though could have been a touch sharper with his distribution.

Tim Ream (6/10): Had one nervous moment misjudging a header, but McKenzie covered well. Otherwise, a steady performance.

Mark McKenzie (6/10): Recovered well from that early scare and stayed composed throughout. Not spectacular, but dependable.

Alex Freeman (6/10): Might have done more to help on Mane’s goal, but his pace and strength in central defence kept Senegal’s attacks under control for much of the first half.

Sergino Dest (8/10): Finished his goal expertly and repeatedly troubled defenders with his dribbling. This was the version of Dest that gives opposition full-backs sleepless nights.

Midfield

Tyler Adams (6/10): Couldn’t quite close down Mane quickly enough for Senegal’s first goal. Strangely, didn’t have many chances to showcase his trademark ball-winning ability.

Sebastian Berhalter (5/10): Not poor, but had a few jittery moments and sometimes took an extra touch in tight spaces. A useful learning experience without major consequences.

Attack

Gio Reyna (7/10): Showed flashes of creativity and came close to unlocking the defense multiple times. A positive step forward for a player still finding rhythm.

Christian Pulisic (9/10): The standout performer. Created Dest’s opener and scored himself. Any concerns about his form can be put to rest after this showing.

Ricardo Pepi (9/10): Outstanding. Played a crucial role in the first goal and assisted the second. Unlucky not to score himself — a complete forward’s display.

Substitutes & Manager

Chris Brady (5/10): Could perhaps have handled Senegal’s second goal differently, though the turnover left him exposed.

Auston Trusty (7/10): Calm and confident both in possession and defensively. Strengthened his case for more minutes.

Joe Scally (7/10): Delivered what was expected — solid, reliable defending and good positional awareness.

Miles Robinson (4/10): His misplaced pass led directly to a goal. A costly error he’ll surely want to forget quickly.

Cristian Roldan (5/10): Decent effort, though small mistakes will do little to silence his critics.

Malik Tillman (8/10): Linked up beautifully with Balogun and was unfortunate to have a goal disallowed. Consistently found himself in dangerous positions.

Max Arfsten (6/10): Quiet but competent — not a bad outing for a winger adjusting to a defensive role.

Timothy Weah (6/10): Had one good opportunity that he couldn’t convert, but still posed a threat with his pace.

Weston McKennie (6/10): Looked slightly off-colour. The setup seemed ideal for him to dominate, but he never really took control.

Folarin Balogun (9/10): Could easily have scored more. Senegal’s defenders struggled to contain him, though the referee’s calls kept the margin closer than it might have been.

Alex Zendejas (7/10): Energetic and adventurous on the right flank but hesitated in key moments, narrowing his shooting angle.

Mauricio Pochettino (8/10): Stuck to his plan of keeping the squad fit and healthy, and the strong performance was an added bonus. His two different lineups both impressed and lifted the overall mood around the team.