Glendale (United States) (AFP) – Cavan Sullivan became the youngest US international goalscorer in history as the United States defeated arch-rivals Mexico 3-0 in a friendly international in Arizona on Saturday. Sullivan, who is poised to join English Premier League side Manchester City next year, netted a superbly taken goal in the 62nd minute to double the USA lead at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale. At 17 years and five days, Sullivan beat Mathis Albert’s five-day-old record as the youngest US goalscorer. Albert, aged 17 and 31 days, had scored during Tuesday’s 4-2 defeat of Chile.
“These are the moments you dream of when you’re three, four, five or six-year-old,” Sullivan said. “I manifested this moment, not just these past couple of hours when I found out I was starting, but my whole life,” he added. Sullivan’s strike came after another teenager — 18-year-old Julian Hall — had given Mauricio Pochettino’s side the lead in the 28th minute. Hall’s goal was his third in as many games since being handed his international debut by US coach Pochettino in last week’s defeat of Peru. Hall also scored in the victory over Chile.
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The loss puts more pressure on Mexico coach Rafael Marquez, who is still seeking his first win since taking over following the World Cup. Mexico dominated possession and territory early on but were unable to find a way through a well-organised United States defence. Instead, it was the hosts who took the lead just before the half-hour mark with a superbly worked goal from Hall. Gio Reyna surged into the penalty area to collect a pass from Alex Freeman and ghosted past Mexico midfielder Erik Lira to reach the byline. Reyna’s low cross was parried away by Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel but only as far as Hall, who lashed in from close range to make it 1-0.
Mexico’s best chance came early in the second half when Roberto Alvarado’s rasping shot from the edge of the area was tipped over the bar by US goalkeeper Diego Kochen. Pochettino’s side doubled their lead on 62 minutes when Sullivan’s persistence in chasing down a long ball was rewarded after Rangel mishit a pass to the American outside his area. Sullivan coolly took his time and chipped home from long range to make it 2-0. “I just remember chipping the ball, hoping it didn’t hit the crossbar or go over,” Sullivan said of his strike. “I was getting nervous when it was in the air and then everything was a blur.”
A miserable night for Mexico got worse shortly afterwards when substitute Luis Chavez was shown a red card for shoving a hand into the face of Sebastian Berhalter in the 68th minute. The United States completed the scoring in the 84th minute when Malik Tillman latched onto a poor Mexico backpass and smashed a shot into the top corner for 3-0.
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