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] what kind of group is in possession and [the willingness to be] we chased the men and recovered the ball.
“That’s my impression after almost three weeks together,” added the former Chelsea, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager. “It’s incredible to have a player like that. I think it’s fantastic news for the USA. I hope he continues to grow in that way.”
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
“The thing my dad always said growing up was to try and run the offense,” Sullivan said. “Obviously I’m a player, but you’re always in the best spots when you win the ball in the press. It’s time to get better at my defensive work, and I still have a lot to do and a lot to improve. But I remember, it’s a big moment.”
And not with Sullivan. The other two Philadelphia players on this young US roster were among the first to reach their teammate after they pumped their fists and ran to the corner flag and fell to their knees before disappearing into a pile of bodies.
“To see him so excited, to celebrate, to come to us,” 18-year-old center back Neil Pierre said. “He dreamed of that forever.”
“Cavan is so happy, happy that he got his first national team goal,” added fullback Frankie Westfeld. “But I know there’s more to come for him, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else he can do.”
Sullivan didn’t know what to do with the match. Mature beyond his years on the field, he looks and sounds like just about any other 17-year-old. After the final whistle blew, he asked the crowd for his parents and older brother Quinn, who also plays for the Union and who won three senior caps on the U.S. squad last year before a serious knee injury cut his season short.
(Photo by Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images)
Before the younger Sullivan was whisked off to the team bus and getting some much-needed sleep before the United States of Minnesota took on Canada on Tuesday in the final game of this new, four-match FIFA window, he was asked the final question. What will he do with that ball?
“Just get it signed, I guess, guys,” he said almost sheepishly. “I don’t know what to do, to be honest.”