ORLANDO — In the inaugural U.S. match of a new World Cup cycle under coach Mauricio Pochettino, a thrilling new talent made his debut on Saturday, just days before his 17th birthday. Cavan Sullivan, who has been making waves in his first professional season, not only participated in the 4-1 victory over Peru but also became the second youngest player in U.S. soccer history to start in his first game.
Unlike other notable U.S. players like Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, and Christian Pulisic, Sullivan’s age sets him apart, with only Mike Slivinski being younger at the time of his debut in 1991. Sullivan’s debut marks him as the youngest since Freddy Adu, who made his first appearance at 16 years and seven months.
The homegrown star from Philadelphia Union is set to join Manchester City when he turns 18 and started on the right wing, playing a notable 62 minutes in a match full of substitutions.
Among the crowded roster, eleven players debuted on Saturday, including 18-year-old defender Peyton Miller and 19-year-old forward Justin Ellis. The second half saw several new faces like goalkeeper Diego Kochen, 20, along with others aged 17 to 21.
Orlando City’s Justin Ellis opened the scoring in his USMNT debut in his home stadium on Saturday.
(Mark Thorstenson/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Ellis, who plays for Orlando City, opened the scoring shortly after the match began with a fantastic header from a set piece. Just after coming on, Mathis won a controversial penalty, which veteran Malik Tillman converted in the 66th minute.
Hall extended the lead in the 72nd minute, thanks to an impressive assist from Sebastian Berhalter, who wrapped up the winning afternoon with a stunning long-range shot in the closing moments.
With 13 of the 28 players on the roster aiming for their first caps and with 11 substitutes allowed instead of the usual five for official games, it was a prime opportunity to evaluate the newcomers ahead of November’s important CONCACAF Nations League matches. Pochettino is expected to reintegrate experienced players like Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Folarin Balogun for future games.
Sullivan’s inclusion in the starting eleven came as a pleasant surprise, and he demonstrated his potential with speed and creativity, although he showed signs of inexperience typical of a player his age. Early on, he and Gio Reyna combined for a free kick, leading to Ellis’s no-look header that put the U.S. ahead.
Ellis’s journey has been rapid; the South Florida native recorded just one appearance in Major League Soccer last season but has already accumulated one goal and ten assists in 19 matches.
Just eleven minutes after Ellis opened the scoring, Peru responded with a goal. A defensive error by George Campbell allowed Peru to equalize when Yoshimar Yotún’s cross found Gianluca Lapadula for a header.
The U.S. nearly regained the lead shortly thereafter, but a missed chance from Tillman resulted in a yellow card for Sullivan after an accidental collision with experienced goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. The U.S. controlled much of the game but struggled with precision in tight spaces.
Kochen took over in goal at halftime, continuing the U.S. dominance in possession although goals came slowly. After several substitutions, Albert drew a penalty, and Tillman converted one more for his sixth international goal. Hall’s deflected goal and Berhalter’s spectacular long-range strike rounded out the scoring.
With the recent struggles of the Peruvian team, which has not qualified for the last two World Cups, their coach Mano Menezes opted for a young squad on this North American tour, highlighting the need for rejuvenation.
Next up for the U.S. is a match against Chile in St. Louis, followed by games against Mexico and Canada.
World Cup center back Chris Richards missed the match for load management after a recent evaluation.
Newcomer Cole Campbell also sat out for similar reasons.
The team will resume training at its facility outside Atlanta before heading to St. Louis on Monday.
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as it heralds a youth movement in the U.S. national team, potentially setting the stage for a brighter future. With such promising talents emerging, fans can hope for a more competitive U.S. squad in the upcoming tournaments and beyond.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
