Christian Pulisic experienced a moment of relief as he scored his first goal since December, helping the U.S. secure a 3-2 victory over Senegal in a World Cup warm-up match. The game marked a significant milestone for Pulisic, who had been without a goal for both club and country for five months.

Pulisic Breaks Goal Drought

Pulisic's goal came in the first half after he skillfully sidestepped Senegal's goalkeeper Mory Diaw. Following the match, Pulisic expressed his relief, stating, “Now maybe we can stop talking about it,” referring to the pressure surrounding his goal-scoring drought. The 27-year-old had finished his AC Milan season without scoring in a career-high 19 club games since December 28 and had not found the net in eight consecutive U.S. matches since November 2024.

Support from Teammates

Midfielder Weston McKennie, who has known Pulisic since he was 13, praised his teammate's abilities, saying, “We are all happy for him and we didn’t doubt him for a second.” Pulisic's goal was set up by Ricardo Pepi, who received a pass from Alex Freeeman before delivering a perfectly weighted ball into the penalty area. Pulisic then rounded Diaw and slotted the ball into the net from a tight angle, marking his 33rd goal in 85 international appearances.

Coach's Confidence

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino had anticipated the end of Pulisic's scoring drought, stating, “The performance of Christian, for 45 minutes, was really, really good.” He acknowledged Pulisic's potential for improvement and emphasized the importance of maintaining his training habits. Pochettino expressed his happiness for Pulisic, noting that scoring again was crucial for the team's preparation for the World Cup.

Ultimately, Pulisic was more focused on the team's victory than his individual achievement. The U.S. squad drew energy from the match, setting a positive tone as they approach their World Cup opener on June 12.