Orlando (United States) (AFP) – Teenage debutants Justin Ellis and Julian Hall both scored as a youthful United States team defeated Peru 4-1 in a friendly international at Orlando on Saturday. Ellis was one of three teenagers named in United States coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line-up for his team’s first game since the World Cup. Philadelphia Union’s 16-year-old prodigy Cavan Sullivan and New England Revolution’s 18-year-old Peyton Miller both started alongside 19-year-old Orlando City striker Ellis in a team showing seven changes to the side beaten 4-1 by Belgium in the World Cup’s last 16 in July.
The infusion of youth was quick to make its mark, with Ellis glancing in an inviting free-kick from Gio Reyna after just four minutes in a dream start at his home stadium. “I’ve probably been dreaming about this day, like, 500 or 1,000 times in my life since I was five years old,” Ellis said afterwards. “I can’t even describe. It’s just crazy.”
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Peru got back on level terms after just 15 minutes when veteran striker Gianluca Lapadula cleverly headed home a Yoshimar Yotun cross. The United States regained the lead in the second half when another teenager – the 17-year-old substitute Mathis Albert – burst clear down the left and was knocked to the ground by Jesus Pretell. Despite the foul beginning just outside the area, Jamaican referee Steffon Dewar pointed to the spot and Malik Tillman stepped up to fire home the penalty for 2-1.
It got better for Pochettino’s side on 72 minutes when 18-year-old substitute Hall bundled in a Sebastian Berhalter cross to make it 3-1. Berhalter then completed the scoring with a thunderous effort from just outside the area in the dying minutes to put the seal on an impressive display for the hosts.
© 2024 AFP
