USMNT's Pulisic breaks goal drought, hopes people stop 'talking' - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — United States manager Mauricio Pochettino was «happy» with the contribution of attacker Christian Pulisic, who broke his five-month scoring drought with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 friendly win over Senegal on Sunday.

For Pulisic, the weight off his shoulders was evident after he scored, as he yelled and slid to his knees in celebration.

«I felt this confidence. I've played really well in recent months too, but all people seem to care about is goals,» Pulisic said. «So hopefully now people can stop talking about it. And I feel good and now obviously just a friendly.

»[We've] got big games ahead and I got to be ready."

The match was the first of two pre-World Cup friendlies, with the U.S. set to take on Germany on Saturday. The U.S. opens the World Cup against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Pulisic assisted on Sergiño Dest's seventh-minute opener, and then doubled the U.S. lead in the 20th minute has he latched on to Ricardo Pepi's pass, rounded Senegal keeper Mory Diaw and scored from a tight angle. The goal was Pulisic's first for club or country since scoring for AC Milan on Dec. 28. The goal also ended an eight-game drought with the U.S. that dated to November 2024.

Pochettino noted that the goals were a result of the effort Pulisic put in during practice in the lead-up to the game.

«Every day, training with this attitude, with this commitment, with this energy, I think now we need to try to [extend] until 90 minutes,» Pochettino said about Pulisic, who played only the first half. «Happy for him also because after the long time or few months [without a goal], let's score again, which is important for a player knowing the preparation to the World Cup.»

Overall,