Sixteen-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan delivered a breakout performance Thursday night, scoring twice and setting up two more goals as the Philadelphia Union surged past Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Force FC, 7-0, to advance in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. The emphatic victory completed a 12-0 aggregate win in the opening round, booked Philadelphia’s place in the Round of 16, and saw Sullivan set an American record in continental competition.
Sullivan’s first goal arrived in the 76th minute, a left-footed blast into the net following a turnover high on the edge of the box, sending Subaru Park into a frenzy and marking his first goal in Champions Cup play.
The midfielder then finished another attack in the 88th minute with a simple tap-in to seal his brace.
On a night where the Union dominated from start to finish, Sullivan’s all-around performance — two goals and two assists — put him at the center of Philadelphia’s attacking display.
At 16 years, 4 months, and 29 days old, Sullivan became the youngest American to score in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
“He’s become a really important piece for us,” Union head coach Bradley Carnell said. “It’s another moment in the right direction.”
Sullivan captured the moment personally, reflecting on the long road to his first goals.
“Happy to score my first goal,” Sullivan said. “Two of them, actually. It was pretty special. More important is the clean sheet in the win and we advance.”
The Union seized momentum in the opening minutes and had already built a cushion by the time Sullivan found the net. The Union broke through as Geiner Martinez opened the scoring in the seventh minute, followed by a penalty from Jovan Lukić and a quick finish from Stas Korzeniowski to put Philadelphia in command before halftime.
Sullivan’s pinpoint passes played a direct role in other goals, including an assist to teammate Ben Bender in the second half.
Alongside Sullivan’s stellar night, the Union’s defense preserved a clean sheet, completing a resounding team performance.
With the aggregate victory, the Union will face Mexican side Club América in the Champions Cup Round of 16, with the first leg scheduled in Philadelphia.
As part of his homegrown contract with the Union, Sullivan has a pre-arranged transfer to English club Manchester City once he turns 18 – a significant milestone for an American youth prospect.
In other Philly sports news, Morton-Rivera has the Crusaders back in the championship.
