Cavan Sullivan, 17, becomes youngest USMNT scorer in 3-0 win over Mexico

The 17-year-old struck in his third international appearance as the U.S. men beat Mexico 3-0 in Glendale, Arizona.

The United States men's national team defeated Mexico 3-0 on Oct. 3 in Glendale, Arizona, with a pair of teenagers among its goal scorers. Cavan Sullivan, 17, wrote his name into the record book, becoming the youngest player ever to score for the U.S. men's national team.

Sullivan was 17 years and five days old when he found the net. The record he broke was itself only days old, set by Mathis Albert with a goal against Chile at 17 years and 131 days. Christian Pulisic held the mark before Albert, having scored at 17 years and 253 days.

The milestone strike came in only the third appearance of Sullivan's international career and in his first game against Mexico. Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel attempted a pass that Sullivan cut out, and the teenager chipped the ball over the keeper's head and into an empty net. Sullivan had earned his first cap the previous week, when no American that young had started a match since Freddy Adu in 2006.

Sullivan plays his club soccer for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. Julian Hall, 18, put the United States in front with the game's opening goal.

After the match, Sullivan told TNT Sports it was the biggest pinch-me moment he had ever experienced. "These are moments you dream of since you're 3, 4, 5, 6 years old," he said. He added that he had manifested the moment for his entire life, not just in the hours after learning he would start, and called it an incredible moment and an honor for his family while thanking the coaches for trusting him and giving him the opportunity.

U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino, a former Argentine player who took the team to this summer's World Cup in North America, wrapped Sullivan in an embrace moments after the goal. "He's a fighter, he's a warrior," Pochettino said. "It's difficult to find this type of player. Tremendous quality."

Adu, the last comparably young American to start before Sullivan's debut, rose to national fame as a teenage prodigy while in U.S. Soccer's residency program in Bradenton, Florida, and put pen to paper with D.C. United as a 14-year-old. In December 2006, he played for the U.S. Under-20 men's national team against Guatemala at FAU's stadium in Boca Raton, scoring the goal that tied the game, which the U.S. won 2-1 in front of roughly 1,600 spectators.

The United States has won all three of its friendlies since Belgium eliminated the Americans from the World Cup in the round of 16. Canada is next on the schedule, with the teams set to meet on Tuesday, giving the U.S. the chance to make it four victories in a row since its World Cup exit.