Cavan Sullivan makes USMNT debut in 4-1 win over Peru
Taking the field two days before his 17th birthday, Sullivan became the fourth-youngest player in team history. Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield also made their senior U.S. debuts.
ORLANDO — Cavan Sullivan made his senior U.S. men’s soccer debut at the first available opportunity, as the 16-year-old was part of the starting lineup in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Peru.
Taking the field two days before his 17th birthday, Sullivan became the fourth-youngest player in senior men’s national team history and second-youngest starter.
He was a lively presence in a 61-minute run: 35 touches, including seven in the 18-yard box, 25 completed passes of 28 attempted, one shot, and one defensive recovery.
He even raised the Peruvians’ ire at one point midway through the first half. Chasing after a potential rebound, he was pushed from behind into goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and tumbled over him into the net. Referee Steffon Dewar of Jamaica quickly got in the middle of things to calm them down, and gave Sullivan a yellow card after Gallese was attended to by medical staff.
On two occasions later in the first half, Sullivan had opportunities to go for spectacular plays on the ball if he wanted to. But both times, he stayed restrained and made simpler moves to help teammates.
Tactically, he played in a right-sided attacking midfield role in a 4-2-3-1 formation. It’s the same area of the field he plays in with the Union, though in slightly different tactics under Ryan Richter’s 4-2-2-2 setup.
Sullivan was one of four players with Union or Philadelphia ties in Saturday’s starting lineup, along with Media’s Auston Trusty and Chester’s George Campbell at centerback, and Wayne’s Matt Freese at goalkeeper.
» READ MORE: Union alumnus Auston Trusty embraces being a USMNT role model for Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre
Trusty and Freese are former Union players, and Trusty and Campbell were youth soccer teammates at the former Nether United club in Delaware County.
Campbell tried out for the Union academy at one point and didn’t get in, though his brothers Will and Rob did. The family moved to Atlanta in 2013, so George grew up with Atlanta United. He played professionally there from 2020 to 2022, then moved to CF Montréal before the 2023 season, and joined English second-tier club West Bromwich Albion last year.
The U.S. opened the scoring in just four minutes, with forward Justin Ellis delivering in his club home stadium with Orlando City. But the good mood didn’t last, as a giveaway by Campbell led to Gianluca Lapadula’s equalizer in the 15th.
Each side was allowed 11 substitutions per game, far more than soccer’s usual five, and U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino used all of his.
The first came at halftime, Freese departing for much-touted prospect Diego Kochen. The 20-year-old Miami native grew up at Spanish superpower Barcelona, and is currently at Denmark’s Lyngby — a club part-owned by the Union — on a loan for the season.
There was a wave of five subs just past the hour mark. Sullivan, Ellis, Gio Reyna (who assisted Ellis’ goal with a free kick), Yunus Musah, and Peyton Miller left, and Mathis Albert, Julian Hall, Zavier Gozo, Sebastian Berhalter, and Antonee Robinson entered.
» READ MORE: A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S. Soccer
Albert made an instant impact, darting down the left flank and winning a penalty kick on a foul that replays showed started outside the 18-yard box. But with no video review in use, the call stood, and the play showed why the 17-year-old from Germany’s Borussia Dortmund is another big-time prospect.
Malik Tillman stepped up to the spot and calmly dispatched his shot.
Hall extended the lead in the 72nd, crashing the back post to finish Sebastian Berhalter’s cross. Robinson also got credit on the play, hitting a beautiful cross-field pass that Berhalter settled before his assist.
Five minutes later, Westfield subbed in, meaning he coincidentally made his senior U.S. debut on the same field where he made his Union first-team debut in last year’s season opener. Brooklyn Raines also entered, with Alex Freeman and Tillman departing.
The last moves came in the 88th. Neil Pierre replaced Campbell — meaning all three Union players made their senior U.S debuts in this game — and Adri Mehmeti replaced Tyler Adams.
Berhalter capped off the scoring with a 25-yard thunderbolt in the 90th.
In all, 11 of the 12 newcomers on the U.S. squad got on the field, with Campbell earning his second career cap. Goalkeeper Brian Schwake was only one of the bunch who didn’t play.
» READ MORE: For all the hype, Cavan Sullivan has genuinely earned his moment on the USMNT’s biggest stage
