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GOAL analyses the standout performers and those who struggled in the United States Men’s National Team’s 3-2 triumph over Senegal.

CHARLOTTE – Soon after the U.S. Men's National Team sealed their 3-2 win over Senegal, head coach Mauricio Pochettino referenced three matches — Paraguay, Uruguay, and this one. These, he said, were the fixtures that brought a smile to his face because the team played the kind of football he has been urging them to produce.

“I think we are fully aware now of the areas we must improve, the things we’ve been discussing for nearly one and a half years,” Pochettino remarked. “Now it’s about facing reality. When you keep talking and talking, sometimes it’s hard to accept what’s being said. Today was a good step forward. We saw full commitment from everyone, and if we can maintain that attitude and dedication, given the talent we have, the key will be to continue improving.”

He added, “In earlier games, the problem was us — not being positioned correctly, not showing the right commitment or mindset. It’s about being united, a solid group, all pulling together as we did today.”

It was the right moment to display that unity. Sunday’s win marked a major push in the USMNT’s World Cup preparations. After a hectic media circuit in New York and intense training sessions under the Atlanta heat, they arrived in Charlotte eager to prove a point. They wanted to show they were the team that impressed against Paraguay and Uruguay, not the one that faltered against Belgium and Portugal.

Those disappointments now feel distant. Sunday’s performance wasn’t flawless, but it offered many positives and individual displays worth highlighting. At the same time, there were issues Pochettino and his staff will focus on correcting in the days ahead. In that sense, this was the ideal World Cup warm-up — boosting confidence while leaving room for refinement.

Inside the camp, the analysis will be detailed. Outside, optimism is rising. Several players praised the home crowd for providing a lift. They hope to carry that energy into the World Cup — and that will depend, of course, on consistent performances like Sunday’s.

“For the fans who truly believe in us, this win means a lot,” Pochettino said. “For us, winning is always important, but so is building trust in the environment around us. After two tough games, this victory helps restore balance and confidence as we head toward the World Cup.”

The mood is upbeat in the USMNT camp as they enter week two of what they hope will be a long and successful summer.

GOAL identifies the winners and losers from the clash at Bank of America Stadium...

WINNER: Christian Pulisic

It was clear that Christian Pulisic needed a goal — for himself, for the team, and for everyone watching, just to ease the pressure. When he finally found the net, the relief and joy were evident.

“It felt great,” he said. “I’ve been feeling confident and playing well recently, but everyone only seems to care about goals. Hopefully now people can stop bringing it up. I feel good.”

Pulisic’s strike was his first of the year and his first for the USMNT since 2024. It was a composed finish too — played in by Ricardo Pepi, Pulisic rounded the goalkeeper before calmly slotting home. If the drought had been bothering him, it didn’t show. Players lacking belief don’t finish like that.

That conversation can now be put to rest. Pulisic looks sharp again, and that bodes well for the USMNT as a whole.

“We have time now. That’s the beauty of international football — you come together quickly, find chemistry, and win. The teams that gel fastest perform best. We’ve had time to train, and with a couple more weeks, we’ll be as ready as we can be.”

LOSER: Miles Robinson

Some mistakes just can’t happen at this level. Miles Robinson knows that all too well, but a lapse in concentration cost the U.S. dearly.

His misplaced pass early in the second half led directly to Sadio Mane’s second goal, levelling the game at 2-2. It was the kind of error that’s unforgivable against world-class opponents. Goalkeeper Chris Brady might have delayed his movement off the line, but you can’t blame him entirely on his debut appearance.

As a veteran, Robinson’s responsibility is to prevent such errors and guide younger teammates. Instead, his mistake gave Senegal a lifeline — something that could be costly in a real World Cup scenario. He’ll know this without being told, but it made his role as a senior defender more complicated, especially with Chris Richards sidelined due to injury.

WINNER: Ricardo Pepi

Ricardo Pepi has long been recognised for his finishing prowess. But on Sunday, he showed he’s also an exceptional creator.

The USMNT forward was instrumental in both goals — providing the secondary assist for the first and the direct assist for the second. Both passes were top quality, and neither goal would have happened without his vision and precision. The PSV attacker has battled injuries in recent years but repeatedly proves his worth whenever fit and available. He did so again here, even without scoring himself.

“It’s super important to start strong,” Pepi said. “It gives the team the confidence we need heading into the World Cup.”

Unfortunately for him, his main rival for the No.1 striker role, Folarin Balogun, also found the net — though Pepi might leave feeling slightly more satisfied with his overall impact.

LOSER: Folarin Balogun

Calling Folarin Balogun a ‘loser’ here is a stretch — he was outstanding. But he’ll be frustrated knowing he could have scored several more goals.

He did get one, which turned out to be the winner, but he could easily have walked away with a hat-trick. One effort was mistimed, another disallowed, and a third saved brilliantly. On another day — perhaps like those he enjoyed at Monaco — he’d have left with the match ball.

Still, Balogun’s overall performance showed how dangerous he can be. He’ll be motivated to convert more of those chances in the next outing.

WINNER: Sergiño Dest

Sergiño Dest is known for taking risks — dribbling at defenders, threading risky passes, and generally playing with flair. On Sunday, he reminded everyone why he’s such a unique presence in the squad.

His goal — his third for the national team — was the simplest of his contributions, calmly finishing a pass from Pulisic. He was quick to acknowledge his teammate’s role.

“I was really happy with the assist,” Dest said. “Christian played a great game — he got his goal and his assist, so that’s huge. I was just glad he saw me and gave me that pass. All I had to do was tap it in.”

Beyond the goal, Dest was electric in possession, constantly taking on defenders and growing in confidence. “I always like to play with skill,” he explained. “When you get more touches, you grow in confidence and can try more things. Then it usually works.”

It certainly worked on Sunday — and if he can sustain that level throughout the World Cup, the USMNT will be much stronger for it.

LOSER: Senegal

It was a rough start for Senegal as they began their World Cup preparations, a team that needed positive momentum just as much as the Americans.

Reports surfaced last week claiming head coach Pape Thiaw had refused to travel to the U.S. due to a contract dispute — a claim both he and the federation denied. Still, the story created unnecessary tension, and this defeat only added to it.

Senegal had some bright moments but largely struggled against the U.S. press. “We studied how Team USA plays,” Thiaw said. “They press high, play physically, and we tried to bypass their first line. Unfortunately, we stuck to building from the back, which caused problems. But congratulations to the U.S. — we’ll keep working.”

Next up for Senegal is a friendly against Saudi Arabia on June 9 before facing France on June 16. There’s time to adjust, but they missed an opportunity to start their campaign on the right note.