CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Christian Pulisic Ended a five-month scoring drought Folarin Balogun broke a second-half tie with his first international goal for club or country since November 2024, as the Americans defeated Senegal 3-2 in America’s penultimate game on Sunday. world cup Warm up match.
Pulisic set up Sergiño Dest’s opening goal in the 7th minute and made it 2-0 with a pass from Ricardo Pepi in the 20th minute. Pulisic received a touch, evaded goalkeeper Molly Diaw and fired an angled shot into the open net for his 33rd goal in 85 international appearances.
Pulisic, America’s top player, finished his season with AC Milan without scoring in a career-high 19 games for the club since December 28, and eight consecutive games without a goal in the United States. Pulisic ran to the corner flag, took a knee and repeatedly pumped his fist.
Sadio Mane scored two goals off American mistakes, increasing Senegal’s international goals record to 54. In the 44th minute, Khabib Diarra’s pass following Anthony Robinson’s goal beat goalkeeper Matt Turner at the far post, and in the 52nd minute Nicholas Jackson lifted the onrushing goalkeeper Chris Brady and smashed the ball into the net.
Brady made his international debut and was included in the USA’s 10-man substitutions at the start of the second half.
Balogun, another second-half substitute, had his goal ruled out for offside in the 49th minute, but he scored his ninth goal for his country in the 63rd minute when Tim Weah’s cross hit Mustafa Mbou’s foot.
The United States, ranked No. 16 in the world, will play No. 10 Germany on June 6, six days before the tournament opener against Paraguay. Senegal, ranked 14th, will play Saudi Arabia in a friendly on June 9th and France on June 16th.
According to Opta, the U.S. starting lineup is averaging 44 international appearances, the most for the team since a loss to Trinidad and Tobago in October 2017, which ended the U.S.’s streak of consecutive World Cup appearances at seven.
Turner, the starting goaltender for the U.S. team at the 2022 World Cup, is making his second appearance for the U.S. team, following a 4-0 loss to Switzerland last June.
If not Chris RichardsThe U.S. national team, who was absent due to an ankle injury, started with a three-centre back formation consisting of Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie and captain Tim Ream. Gio Reyna made his first start for club or country since December 19th.
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