USA 3-2 Senegal Highlights, International Friendly: Pulisic Shines As USMNT Overcome Lions Of Teranga

Hello, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering the international friendly between USA and Senegal. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are released.

• Fixture: USA vs Senegal

• Series: FIFA International Friendly

• Venue: Bank of Arena Stadium, Charlotte

• Date: Sunday, May 31, 2026

• Time: 1:00 AM IST (June 1)

After the national anthems, the referee blows the whistle and we are underway in Charlotte. Stay tuned for live updates from the friendly clash.

A bright start from the hosts, who have controlled most of the ball in the early stages of the game. Pulisic plays a good cross into the box that almost finds an American player, but it comes to nothing. Still, positive signs for Pochettino’s side.

Sergino Dest scores to put USA ahead early in the contest!! It’s a fantastic team effort from the hosts, with Pepi finding the run of Pulisic, who beat the offside trap. The AC Milan man makes a darting run into the Senegal box before cutting it back for Dest to find the back of the net from close range.

A good response from Senegal, who have pushed ahead since conceding early. Diarra’s foul on Ribonson brings their attacking move to an end, but it’s encouraging signs from the Lions of Teranga, who have had just one touch in the opposition’s box.

A couple of brilliant opportunities for Senegal to equalise. The first one is created by a bursting run forward by Mane, but Turner beats him to the chase and puts in a strong challenge to get the danger away. Minutes later, Ndiaye makes a good run before squaring it for Jackson, but the Bayern striker fires his shot over the crossbar.

Pulisic gets his name on the scoresheet to double USA’s lead inside the opening 20 minutes!! Pepi is involved again, finding himself with all the time and space on the right flank. He squares it back for Pulisic, who goes past Diaw before finding the back of the net from a tight angle.

Very little joy for Senegal at the moment, who waste a free-kick opportunity in a dangerous area. USA win posession and break forward with pace, but Reyna’s cross for Pepi is a bit too heavy and is gathered by Diaw.

A couple of minutes later, Pepi finds the perfect ball to tee up Robinson, but the Fulham defender’s first-time shot is brilliantly blocked by Sarr.

Senegal were slowly finding their rhythm in the contest, and Mane cuts the deficit with a goal right before half-time. Habib Diarra runs with the ball to the edge of the opposition’s penalty area before finding the run of Mane, who finds the bottom corner with a fine finish.

After three minutes of additional time, the referee blows his whistle to bring the first half to an end. USA made a stunning start, going two goals up early, but Mane’s late strike has pulled Senegal back in the contest.

The players emerge out of the tunnels and take their formations on the pitch for the second half. USA make seven changes at the break, with Senegal also making a couple of substitutions.

Folarin Balogun has struck again, restoring a two-goal cushion for the United States! After latching onto the ball deep inside the penalty area, Balogun showed composed finishing to rifle his effort past Diaw.

Wait, hold on! USA’s celebrations are cut shot as Balogun is adjudged to be offside, and the goal is chalked off.

It is a chaotic scene at the back for the hosts as Nicolas Jackson forces a disastrous turnover from Auston Trusty. Jackson pounced on the loose ball, beating Brady to it before teeing up Sadio Mane, who finds the back of the net.

A potential goal for USA that would have extended their lead ruled out by the referee, who instead awards a free-kick to Senegal. The decision stemmed from a challenge by Balogun, who was ruled to have committed a foul during his attempt to get a shot away.

Moments later, the Monaco man gets the goal he was looking for after Senegal fail to clear Weah’s shot. The loose ball falls kindly for Balogu, who finds the bottom corner.

A golden opportunity for the hostss to put this game beyond reach goes begging. Roldan cuts inside onto his favored left foot deep within the area, but he cannot connect cleanly, scuffing his effort well wide of the post. Time for the second water cooling break.

Somehow, the scoreline remains 3-2! In a frantic sequence of play, McKennie forces a sharp save from Diaw, only to rattle the woodwork on his follow-up effort. The ball then spills kindly to Balogun, who looks certain to add his tally, but Diaw produces yet another sensational stop to deny him!

Mbow executes a critical defensive block to deny Zendejas, who appeared to be through on goal. With a powerful recovery, Mbow slides in to thwart the attempt and prevent the shot from reaching the target.

USA claim a hard-fought victory over Senegal in a high-octane pre-tournament friendly. The Americans flew out of the blocks, establishing a two-goal cushion within the first 20 minutes. Senegal refused to fold, but Sadio Mane’s heroic brace goes in vain tonight.