17-Year-Old Cavan Sullivan Becomes USMNT's Youngest Goalscorer in Mexico Rout

Cavan Sullivan became the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history during Saturday's 3-0 win over Mexico at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., per www.foxsports.com.

Sullivan had turned 17 just five days before the match. His record-breaking moment came not from a flowing attacking move, but from his own defensive pressure. The teenager forced Mexico keeper Jose Rangel into an errant pass, intercepted it, and lofted the ball over Rangel's head and into the net.

The strike helped the Americans secure their largest margin of victory over Mexico in more than 30 years, despite an overwhelmingly pro-El Tri crowd in greater Phoenix.

After the match, Sullivan carried the history-making ball and fielded questions from reporters, his USA jersey slung over his shoulder. "That wasn't the way I pictured scoring a goal," Sullivan said. "But the celebration was."

A GOAL HE DIDN'T PICTURE

Sullivan played 65 minutes in Saturday’s 3-0 win, per www.foxsports.com, and his goal was pure hustle rather than a designed move. His defensive pressure forced Mexico keeper Jose Rangel into an errant pass, which Sullivan intercepted and coolly lofted over Rangel’s head before being mobbed by the entire U.S. bench.

"That wasn't the way I pictured scoring a goal," Sullivan said, per www.foxsports.com. "But the celebration was."

The teenager has only officially been a senior national team player for a week, making his debut on Sept. 26 against Peru and adding a match vs. Chile last Tuesday, according to www.foxsports.com. In those appearances, 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.

Saturday’s strike, though, came from the unglamorous side of his game — the chase, the pressure, the recovery. It was the kind of goal that doesn't show up in a highlight reel of composed finishes, but it may have said more about his readiness than any of his attacking flourishes in the previous two matches.

YOUNG BUT PROVEN