The moment so many American soccer fans have been waiting for arrived Wednesday night.

Cavan Sullivan scored his first MLS goal in the Philadelphia Union‘s 4-3 loss to Orlando City, serving as a spark during anย entertaining seven-goal match at Inter&Co Stadium.

Cavan Sullivan’s first @MLS goal was a beaut ๐Ÿ™Œ#DOOP pic.twitter.com/ofarP9PuhT

โ€” Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 14, 2026

Sullivan subbed on for the injured Jovan Lukiฤ‡ in the 44th minute and provided an immediate impact, netting his first league goal in the 75th minute by finishing a tidy cross from Ben Bender.

At 16 years and 227 days old, Sullivan is the eighth-youngest player to score in an MLS regular-season match. He joins a list that includes Freddy Adu, Gianluca Busio,ย Jesรบs Ferreiraย and Diego Fagรบndez.

“He changes the complexion of a gameโ€ฆ he starts a trickle-down effect,โ€ head coach Bradley Carnell told reporters after the match.

โ€œHe is doing a great job in assuming responsibility and taking ownership and trying, and thatโ€™s great.ย He has a chip on his shoulder.โ€

Youngest goalscorers in MLS history

  1. Freddy Adu – 14 years, 320 days
  2. Julian Hall – 16 years, 87 days
  3. Gianluca Busio – 16 years, 142 days
  4. Jesรบs Ferreira – 16 years, 161 days
  5. Diego Fagรบndez – 16 years, 173 days
  6. Christian Torres- 16 years, 186 days
  7. Santino Quaranta – 16 years, 217 days
  8. Cavan Sullivan – 16 years, 227 days

Well-earned first @MLS goal for Cavan Sullivan ๐Ÿ‘ pic.twitter.com/UZAiTVGXdw

โ€” Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 14, 2026

Gaining momentum

Now in his third professional season, Sullivan found the net twice earlier this year in Concacaf Champions Cup play. He also has two assists in league games.

With the goal-scoring monkey off his back, the homegrown standout has momentum to build on.ย 

โ€œIt is a pretty great feeling scoring my first. I have been working on this one for a while,โ€ Sullivan told Apple TV post-match. โ€œI scored in the Concacaf Champions Cup, but this one means a lot after a tough year and a half without one. I am really happy, but we just have to keep going and climb the table.โ€

This is just the beginning for Sullivan, who signed his marquee homegrown deal at age 14 and became the youngest signing in club history.

The US youth international is now earning more opportunities with the first team, developing ahead of his reported eventual move to English powerhouse Manchester City.