05/31/26 06:28:00
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05/31 18:26 CDT Pulisic ends scoring drought, has goal and assist as Americans
beat Senegal 3-2 in World Cup warmup
Pulisic ends scoring drought, has goal and assist as Americans beat Senegal 3-2
in World Cup warmup
By STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) --- Christian Pulisic ended a five-month scoring drought
for club and country with his first international goal since November 2024,
Folarin Balogun broke a second-half tie and the United States beat Senegal 3-2
Sunday in the Americans' next-to-last World Cup warmup match.
Pulisic set up Sergio Dest's opener in the seventh minute, then made it 2-0
off a Ricardo Pepi pass in the 20th. Pulisic took a touch, rounded goalkeeper
Mory Diaw and slotted into an open net from a tight angle for his 33rd goal in
85 international appearances.
The top American player, Pulisic had finished his AC Milan season scoreless in
a career-high 19 club games since Dec. 28 and was without a goal in eight
straight U.S. matches. Pulisic ran to a corner flag, dropped to his knees and
repeatedly pumped his fists.
Sadio Man scored twice following American mistakes, extending his Senegal
record with 54 international goals. He beat goalkeeper Matt Turner at the far
post in the 44th off a Habib Diarra pass that followed Antonee Robinson's
giveaway, then tapped the ball into the net in the 52nd after Nicolas Jackson
had lifted it over onrushing goalkeeper Chris Brady.
Brady entered among 10 U.S. changes at the start of the second half in his
international debut.
Balogun, another second-half sub, had a goal disallowed for offside in the
49th, then got his ninth international goal in the 63rd after Tim Weah's cross
deflected off a foot of Moustapha Mbow.
The No. 16 U.S. plays 10th-ranked Germany on June 6, six days before the
Americans open the tournament against Paraguay. No. 14 Senegal faces Saudi
Arabia in a June 9 friendly and start against France on June 16.
The American starting lineup averaged 44 international appearances, the team's
highest since the October 2017 loss at Trinidad and Tobago that ended the U.S.
streak of seven straight World Cup appearances, according to Opta.
Turner, the American starting goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup, made just his
second U.S. appearance since a 4-0 loss to Switzerland last June.
In the absence of Chris Richards, sidelined by an ankle injury, the U.S.
started Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie and captain Tim Ream in a three center back
formation. Gio Reyna made his first start for club or country since Dec. 19.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
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