STATE FARM STADIUM (Glendale, Ariz.) — With his USA jersey slung over his shoulder and the history-making ball in hand, Cavan Sullivan almost looked overwhelmed as he fielded questions from a throng of reporters in the bowels of the 60,00 seat arena he had just about silenced an hour before with one swing of his right foot.
During his 65 minutes on the field in Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing of Mexico, he was anything but. Sullivan, who had only turned 17 just five days earlier, became the youngest goalscorer in the century-plus history of the U.S. men’s national team, helping the Americans secure their largest margin of victory over their biggest rival in more than 30 years despite an overwhelmingly pro-El Tri crowd in greater Phoenix.
“That wasn’t the way I pictured scoring a goal,” said Sullivan, whose defensive pressure forced Mexico keeper Jose Rangel into an errant pass that the youngster intercepted and then coolly lofted over Rangel’s head and into the net before being mobbed by the entire U.S. bench. “But the celebration was.”
Though Sullivan has only officially been a senior national team player for a week, it’s clear that he belongs at this level. In his Sept. 26 debut against Peru and last Tuesday vs. Chile, he showed glimpses of the attacking ability that has made the Philadelphia Union academy graduate one of the most productive players in MLS since the domestic league returned from its World Cup break in mid-July.
(Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
“I think we just got to stop talking about his age,” U.S. captain Tyler Adams said. “He’s here for a reason.”
It’s the reason Manchester City struck a deal with the Union for Sullivan to move to the English titans next year — depending, of course, on the outcome of its appeal of financial cheating charges leveled by the Premier League.
Yet coach Mauricio Pochettino has been just as impressed by Sullivan’s attitude, work ethic and his commitment to precisely the sort of defensive work that directly led to Saturday’s record-breaking strike.
“He’s a fighter. He’s a warrior,” Pochettino said. “It’s difficult to find this type of player with a tremendous [offensive] high quality, with the ball in possession, after which [the willingness to be] chasing folks and recovering the ball.
“That’s what my impression is after practically three weeks collectively,” the previous Chelsea, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain supervisor added. “It’s unbelievable to have a participant like this. I feel it is unbelievable information for the USA. I hope that he continues rising in that manner.”
(Picture by Chris Coduto/Getty Pictures)
“The factor I at all times was instructed by my dad rising up was to try to make offense out of protection,” Sullivan stated. “Clearly, I am an offensive participant, however you are at all times in the most effective spots once you win the ball through the press. It is taken time to get higher at my defensive work, and I nonetheless have rather a lot to do and rather a lot to enhance on. However yeah, it is an important second.”
And never only for Sullivan. The opposite two Philadelphia gamers on this younger U.S. roster have been among the many first reserves to achieve their teammate after he pumped his fists and ran to the nook flag and slid on his knees earlier than disappearing right into a pile of our bodies.
“To see him so excited, celebrating, coming to us,” 18-year-old central defender Neil Pierre stated. “He was dreaming of that perpetually.”
“Simply pleased for Cavan, pleased that he bought his first aim for the nationwide workforce,” added fullback Frankie Westfield. “However I do know there’s extra to return for him, and I am wanting ahead to seeing what else he can do.”
Sullivan didn’t know precisely what to do after the match. Mature past his years on the sphere, he seems and seems like nearly every other 17-year-old off it. After the ultimate whistle sounded, he searched the gang for his dad and mom and older brother Quinn, who additionally performs for the Union and who received three senior caps for the U.S. squad final 12 months earlier than a severe knee damage lower brief his season.
(Picture by Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Pictures)
Earlier than the youthful Sullivan was whisked away to the workforce bus and a few much-needed sleep earlier than the U.S. heads to Minnesota to tackle Canada on Tuesday on this ultimate recreation of this new, prolonged four-match FIFA window, he was requested a ultimate query. What’s going to he do with that ball?
“Simply form of, I assume, get it signed by the fellows,” he stated, nearly sheepishly. “I do not actually know what to do with it, to be sincere.”
