The moment so many American soccer fans have been waiting for arrived Wednesday night.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Cavan Sullivan<\/a> scored his first MLS goal in the Philadelphia Union<\/a>‘s 4-3 loss<\/a> to Orlando City<\/a>, serving as a spark during an\u00a0entertaining seven-goal match at Inter&Co Stadium.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Cavan Sullivan’s first @MLS<\/a> goal was a beaut \ud83d\ude4c#DOOP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ofarP9PuhT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Sullivan subbed on for the injured Jovan Luki\u0107<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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,\u00a0Jes\u00fas Ferreira<\/a>\u00a0and Diego Fag\u00fandez<\/a>.<\/p>\n “He changes the complexion of a game\u2026 he starts a trickle-down effect,\u201d head coach Bradley Carnell told reporters after the match.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is doing a great job in assuming responsibility and taking ownership and trying, and that\u2019s great.\u00a0He has a chip on his shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n Well-earned first @MLS<\/a> goal for Cavan Sullivan \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/UZAiTVGXdw<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Now in his third professional season, Sullivan found the net twice<\/a> earlier this year in Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> play. He also has two assists in league games.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n With the goal-scoring monkey off his back, the homegrown standout has momentum to build on.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a pretty great feeling scoring my first. I have been working on this one for a while,\u201d Sullivan told Apple TV post-match. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n This is just the beginning for Sullivan, who signed his marquee homegrown deal at age 14<\/a> and became the youngest signing in club history.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Youngest goalscorers in MLS history<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Gaining momentum<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n