The USMNT played its first tune-up match before the World Cup and showed they mean business. There has been a lot of talk about this team, the roster chosen, the coaching tactics, all ahead of a World Cup in which they will be one of the co-hosts. Now, the players on the pitch could show off while the World watched.
The USMNT took on Senegal in a meeting between a host and one of the dark horses to win the upcoming World Cup. Before a ball was even kicked, it was clear that both teams were dealing with a few absences as they prepared their players for match fitness ahead of the tournament's start.
USA boss Mauricio Pochettino had his team in the familiar 3-4-2-1 formation, but the personnel picked from the start were an interesting mix of regular starters and players needing minutes to get game-fit.
USA Starting XI vs Senegal. Formation: 3-4-2-1
GK: Turner
CB: Ream CB: McKenzie CB: Freeman
LWB: A. Robinson CM: Berhalter CM: Adams RWB: Dest
AM: Pulisic AM: Reyna
ST: Pepi
Senegal came out in the 3-4-3 formation that they like to use to frustrate opponents in the middle of the pitch. Their captain and leader up top, Sadio Mané, led the side, while other important starters were out for this game.
Senegal Starting XI vs. USA Formation: 3-4-3
GK: Diaw
CB: Sarr CB: Seck CB: Diatta
LM: Jakobs CM: B. Ndiaye CM: Camara RM: I. Ndiaye
To start the match, Senegal uncharacteristically started in a low block. This allowed for the USMNT to get some early touches moving forward. Wingbacks, Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest were able to join the attack, which proved vital inside the first 10 minutes. Robinson, who goes by Jedi, used his swift skills to play Christian Pulisic down the left flank. The USA talisman picked his head up and found a streaking run from Dest, who smashed home the effort to give the USMNT the lead in the 6th minute.
The early goal for the USA forced Senegal to play more like themselves as the game grew more frantic in the middle of the field. This proved to be better for the AFCON champs, who got a few chances that just missed the final pass. However, the USA also used that to its advantage. On one occasion, Senegal had pushed so many men forward that one easy ball up the pitch found striker Ricardo Pepi. He had drifted wide right, allowing Pulisic space in the middle of the field. Pepi found Pulisic with a great through ball. He rounded the keeper and slotted home his first goal since 2024 for the USMNT.
It was 2-0 USA in the first 20 minutes, but Senegal grew more and more into the game as the first half went on. This culminated in the 44th minute, when Senegal dispossessed the USA and gained a numerical advantage going forward. Diarra drove at the defense at Ream and got McKenzie's ball watching. This allowed Mané to run in behind. The Senegalese star took a touch, held off Adams, and fired home to make it 2-1 just before halftime.
Pochettino loves to keep everyone guessing. He did so in this game by making 10 halftime changes. Brady, Scally, M. Robinson, Trusty, Arfsten, Roldan, Weah, Tillman, McKennie, and Balogun all came in; Berhalter was the lone starter who stayed on the pitch. The changes made the game very disjointed.
Not five minutes into the second half, the USA thought they had a third goal. Senegal tried to play out of the back, where Malik Tillman pressed and won the ball. He played a quick pass to Balogun, who scored a deflected shot. Unfortunately, the U.S. striker was offside, and the game rolled on. Four minutes later, Senegal would find their second goal after some sloppy play from the USMNT. Miles Robinson failed to deal with pressure from Mané. The centerback turned the ball over to him, and Senegal's leading man beat Brady to make things 2-2.
With things tied, the USMNT didn't sit back. Weston McKennie took the armband from Tim Ream, who came off at halftime. He thought he had an assist in the 60th minute when another quick turnover led to a shot attempt. Balogun tried to control the ball as he fell, but he kicked a Senegal defender. The ball trickled to Tilman, who smashed the ball home. While that goal didn't stand, three minutes later, they made it 3-2. McKennie found Weah down the right flank. He put in an inch-perfect ball to Balogun, who scored!
The final 30 minutes were back and forth, but uneventful. Alex Zendejas came on in the 76th minute and almost scored from the wing. Senegal's dangerous attacks seemed to go away after Mané was subbed off in the 60th minute. The match would end 3-2 after a frantic 90 minutes.
The USMNT got the victory in this match, and three main things stood out. The first was the fact that Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino used 22 of the 26 players on the roster. The only players not used were Matt Freese, Chris Richards (who was not in the gameday squad, still rehabbing an injury), Brenden Aaronson, and Haji Wright. This helped many players gain valuable minutes ahead of the World Cup's start.
The second and third things that stood out were the strength in the team's attacking looks and the shaky defense. Both of these could be a little inflated, given that this is the first time the World Cup squad has seen the field. But it's always good when attackers score goals, and it's always concerning when a defense looks like Swiss cheese.
Moving forward, the USMNT will play Germany next Saturday in Chicago in their final preparation game before the World Cup. The U.S. and the fans of the Red, White, and Blue can hold on to this win for a week as the team continues its World Cup prep; only 12 more days!
