Two Different Attacks Over Two Halves

Pochettino Made Wholesale Changes at Halftime, Giving Two Different Looks in Attack

The first half against Senegal offered a glimpse of what the United States could be at its absolute best. Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi built an almost instant chemistry, combining twice in the opening 20 minutes to put the US firmly in control. Pepi's movement pulled the Senegalese defense apart, creating the space that led to Sergiño Dest's opener—a goal that capped a remarkable 20-plus pass sequence involving every outfield player. Minutes later, Pepi sprung Pulisic again in behind, and the AC Milan man did the rest, rounding the goalkeeper to double the lead. Gio Reyna, making his first start since December, nearly got in on the act early but couldn't convert a low Pulisic cross that begged to be finished.

Then came halftime, and 10 new players, which included an entirely different attacking unit.

Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun brought a different kind of energy to the second half, one built on pressing, physicality and direct running. Balogun had the ball in the net twice, though one was ruled out for offside. Tillman had another called back after a Balogun "foul" in the build-up. When Balogun finally got one to stick in the 63rd minute, deflecting in off a Weah cross, it sealed a victory that felt thoroughly deserved.

What Sunday demonstrated more than anything is the kind of attacking depth this US squad possesses, something genuinely unprecedented for this program. Nine players, including Alejandro Zendejas, rotated through dangerous positions, and each looked capable of influencing a World Cup match. Any of them could realistically start the June 12 opener against Paraguay.

"We all know what we like. We know the qualities each of us have," McKennie said of the second-half group.

For Pochettino, that is an enviable problem to have, and for opponents, a genuinely unsettling one.

Pulisic Shines in the Victory

Winger Provided an Assist on the Opener Before Scoring One of His Own in the Win Over Senegal

For months, the narrative surrounding Christian Pulisic had become almost impossible to escape. America's best player hadn't scored for club or country since late December, a drought that stretched across 22 games and consumed nearly every conversation about the US men's national team heading into a home World Cup. The questions were relentless. The scrutiny was exhausting.

Pulisic, to his credit, never stopped believing. "I've felt this confidence," he said after Sunday's match. "I've played really well in recent months, too, but all people seem to care about is goals. So hopefully now people can stop talking about it."

They can. At least for now.

Against Senegal in Charlotte, the 27-year-old looked every bit the player who tore through Serie A in the fall, constantly probing, pulling defenders out of position and arriving in dangerous areas. His connection with Ricardo Pepi was the story of the first half, the two combining for both goals in a 20-minute stretch that reminded onlookers just how good this team can be when Pulisic is at his best. He set up Sergiño Dest's opener with a perfectly weighted cross, then calmly rounded goalkeeper Mory Diaw to slot home his 33rd international goal. When he dropped to his knees at the corner flag, fists pumping, the relief was written all over him.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino, who had publicly declared earlier in the week that Pulisic would score at the World Cup, pointed to the work his star put in during training as the foundation for what unfolded.

With Germany next Saturday and Paraguay in the World Cup opener on June 12, the timing could not be better. A player who carries the ceiling of an entire program finally looks like himself again, and that should worry everyone else.

Strong U.S. Beat Senegal

An Early Pair of Goals Sets the Tone in a Friendly Victory Before the World Cup

The United States men's national team picked up a confidence-boosting 3-2 victory over Senegal on Sunday in Charlotte, with Christian Pulisic delivering a standout performance that fans and coaches had been waiting months to see.

Pulisic had gone without a goal for club or country since late December, a drought spanning 22 games, but the AC Milan winger emphatically ended that run in front of nearly 58,000 fans. He set up Sergiño Dest's opener in just the seventh minute with a perfectly weighted cross, capping a slick team move, and then added a goal of his own in the 20th. Taking a through ball from Ricardo Pepi, Pulisic used a deft first touch to beat goalkeeper Mory Diaw before slotting home from a tight angle. The celebration—a sprint to the corner flag and a drop to his knees—said everything about what the moment meant. It was his 33rd international goal in 85 appearances, and the eighth time he has contributed both a goal and an assist in a single US match, a feat only Landon Donovan has surpassed in program history.

Senegal, no pushover, rallied through Sadio Mané, who scored on either side of halftime to bring the visitors level, with both goals stemming from avoidable American defensive errors that will concern coach Mauricio Pochettino heading into the World Cup. The go-ahead goal came in the 63rd minute from Folarin Balogun, who turned a deflected Tim Weah cross into the net to seal the win.

The result snapped a run of back-to-back losses from the March friendlies and gave the US real momentum heading into their final warmup, a June 6 clash against Germany in Chicago, before the tournament kicks off against Paraguay on June 12.