In an exciting friendly match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, Christian Pulisic played a pivotal role in the U.S. men’s national team’s 3-2 victory over Senegal. He contributed both a goal and an assist in the first half, setting the stage for Folarin Balogun’s decisive goal in the second half.
Pulisic first assisted on Sergiño Dest’s opening goal before finding the net himself, giving the Americans a 2-0 lead. However, the match turned chaotic when Sadio Mané scored twice for Senegal, leading to a tense second half.
This match marks the first of two friendlies for the U.S. national team, which will face the four-time FIFA World Cup champions, Germany, next Saturday. As preparations for the World Cup intensify, let’s evaluate the performances of the players involved in this thrilling match against the African powerhouse.
Manager Evaluation
Mauricio Pochettino receives a score of 7 for his management during the match. Most of the tactical decisions made by Pochettino and his staff delivered positive outcomes. As is the case with any game, questions linger, particularly regarding player comfort in certain roles, but overall, the strategy was effective.
Player Ratings
Goalkeeper Matt Turner is rated a 5. His role became significant only in the final 15 minutes when Senegal intensified their attack. Before that, his most notable contribution came when he managed to block Mané’s effort without conceding a foul. Despite a few solid saves, he was unable to prevent Mané from narrowing the lead to 2-1.
Defender Alex Freeman also receives a score of 5. Although he was fouled by Mané in the sequence that led to Turner’s sending off, Freeman showcased his importance during the buildup that led to the opening goal and demonstrated strong recovery skills in the central defense.
Mark McKenzie, another defender, shares a rating of 5. He exhibited consistency in central defense, successfully breaking up Senegal’s passes on multiple occasions. However, a misplaced pass did lead to a turnover that could have been costly.
Substitutes’ Contributions
Goalkeeper Chris Brady, who replaced Turner at halftime, is rated a 4. In his first cap for the U.S., he faced a challenging situation with Mané scoring shortly after his entry. Defender Joe Scully managed a 5, briefly contributing in attack, while Myles Robinson’s performance warrants a score of 3 due to a crucial turnover that led to Senegal’s equalizing goal.
Weston McKennie, who entered for Adams at halftime, earns a 6 for his versatile and impactful presence, nearly scoring himself. Folarin Balogun, who came on for Pepi, gets a 7 after showing patience and finishing brilliantly to secure the winning goal.
Overall, Christian Pulisic stood out with an impressive rating of 8, establishing his impact early in the match. In contrast, Giovanni Reyna’s contributions were less significant, meriting a score of 4 as his efforts did not match those of his teammates, especially given the intensity of the match.
