ORLANDO — The first U.S. match of the new World Cup era under Mauricio Pochettino provided a rousing introduction on Saturday for an exciting prospect old enough to drive.
Two days shy of his 17th birthday — and less than a year into his breakout pro season — Cavan Sullivan not only made his debut in a 4-1 win over Peru, but also became the second youngest in program history to start his first match.
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Landon Donovan wasn’t that young. Neither was Tim Howard, nor Christian Pulisic, nor any of the other hot US prospects of late.
Only Mike Slivinski was younger (45 days) when he made his only career appearance in 1991.
Sullivan is the youngest debutant since Freddie Adu, who played in a friendly against Canada in 2006 aged 16 years and 7 months. Sullivan also became the fourth youngest ever to play in the senior team after Adu, Slivinski and Mark Jonas (1991).
The Philadelphia Union homegrown star, who will join Manchester City when he turns 18, started on the right wing and logged 62 good minutes in a friendly filled with substitutes.
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Sullivan was among 11 Americans to debut Saturday. 18-year-old linebacker Peyton Miller and 19-year-old forward Justin Ellis started. Goalkeeper Diego Kochen, 20, entered the second half; defenders Frankie Westfield, 20, and Neil Pierre, 18; wingers Zavier Gozo, 19, and Mathis Albert, 17; midfielders 21-year-old Brooklyn Raines and 17-year-old Adri Mehmeti; and forward Julian Hall, 18.
Orlando City’s Justin Ellis opened the scoring in his USMNT debut at home on Saturday.
(Mark Thorstenson/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Playing at home, Orlando City’s Ellis opened the scoring shortly after kick-off with a superb header from the penalty spot. Minutes after coming on, Mathis had a questionable penalty kick that World Cup veteran Malik Tillman converted in the 66th minute.
Hall took the lead in the 72nd on a great assist from Sebastian Berhalter. The World Cup midfielder then completed a superb afternoon with a stunning strike from the edge of the box in the 90th minute.
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Thirteen of the 28 listed players were due to make their debuts – and 11 substitutes were allowed instead of the usual five for official games – with several newcomers due to make their debuts in the first of four friendlies in 11 days.
Now was the time to try out the rookies before the U.S. returns to consistent action in the CONCACAF Nations League in November. Pochettino is likely to recall veterans like Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Tim Weah.
Sullivan figured to play Saturday, the U.S.’s first game since losing 4-1 to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 in Seattle. But it was a surprise that he was included in the starting line-up alongside six players at the summer World Cup. He performed with confidence and speed, vision and menace, but predictably lacked the grace of a more experienced figure.
In the fourth minute, Sullivan and Gio Reyna stood on a 35-meter free kick from the left side. Reyna headed it from 11 yards to Ellis, who cleared goalkeeper Pedro Galles and kissed the far post.
After making just one appearance in Major League Soccer last year, it’s been a rapid rise for South Florida native Ellis, who recorded one goal and 10 assists in 19 games.
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Peru equalized 11 minutes after Ellis’ goal. Center back George Campbell cleared the ball deep in his second appearance. The US never got it back. Yoshimar Yotun crossed at the back, where Gianluca Lapadula slid in behind Miller and slotted the ball past keeper Matt Freese from the 6-yard box.
The U.S. should have regained the lead in the 20th minute, but Tillman, a two-time World Cup scorer, once scored on Gallese 8 yards after a nice build-up and quality ball work from Miller.
Searching for a potential rebound, Sullivan clipped the head of Gallese, who fell to the ground. Despite being pushed into the game, the teenager was yellow-carded for a hard charge and came into contact with a 2018 World Cup goalkeeper twice his age.
The U.S. spent the rest of the half in and around Peru’s box, but were inaccurate in their interactions in tight spaces and had two threats thwarted by defenders.
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Kochen, who is currently a graduate of FC Barcelona’s academy with Lyngby in Denmark, replaced Freesen at half-time.
USA’s possession continued in the second half. However, the goals had to wait.
After Pochettino made five substitutions, Albert (Borussia Dortmund) stepped up on the left wing. Jesús Pretell tried to slow him down with his arms, then appeared to make contact with his legs. All this happened out of the box. Nevertheless, referee Steffon Dewar awarded a penalty. (Video replay not used.) Tillman scored his sixth international goal.
Hall (Red Bull New York) then used his right knee to deflect a superb diving cross from Berhalter. Berhalter then kicked from about 28 yards for his third international goal.
Peru is in the process of regrouping after missing the last two World Cups and finishing last in the 2026 South American qualifiers.
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Mano Menezes, who once coached his native Brazil, selected just two players under the age of 24 for the North American tour, which includes a friendly against Mexico in Harrison, New Jersey; Canada in Montreal; and Columbia in Miami.
His roster included two former Orlando City players (Yotun and Gallese) and one current member of the MLS team, midfielder Wilder Cartagena.
The U.S. will return to action against Chile on Tuesday in St. Louis. Other tests are next Saturday in the Phoenix area against Mexico and Oct. 6 against Minnesota in St. Louis. Paul will be held against Canada.
World Cup defender Chris Richards was not in the form team officials said he was in handling the load. He missed the start of Friday’s practice for an evaluation before joining practice.
In his first camp, 20-year-old German winger Cole Campbell was scratched for the same reason.
The delegation will continue training at the national training center outside Atlanta before flying to St. Louis on Monday afternoon.