Playing its first match of the 2030 World Cup cycle, the United States men’s national team crushed Peru 4-1 on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, thanks to goals from newcomers Justin Ellis, Zavier Gozo and Justin Hall to victory. The victory marks the American debut of 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan, whose appearance in the U.S. starting lineup makes him the youngest player to appear on the national team in more than two decades.
Sullivan received the lion’s share of attention ahead of Saturday’s match, but it was Orlando City’s Ellis who stole the show early on, scoring off a Gio Reyna free kick in the fourth minute to give the United States an early lead. Playing at his home stadium, Ellis himself was involved in the build-up that led to the free kick, part of a clever exchange with midfielder Malik Tillman that ended with Ellis fouling on the near side of the field, around 25 yards from goal. Reyna’s service was excellent. Ellis’ header was clumsy but perfectly placed at the far post.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for this international window includes a mix of regulars alongside a host of young, uncapped players, many of whom featured in Saturday’s match. In total, 11 players received their first caps for the United States, including three – Sullivan, Ellis and New England Revolution defender Peyton Miller – in Pochettino’s starting XI. Bournemouth and 2022 World Cup captain Tyler Adams has been handed the captain’s armband for the first time during Pochettino’s two-year tenure as United States head coach.
Peru responded quickly to the United States’ opener by equalizing in the 14th minute. Midfielder Yoshimar Yotun found Universitario forward Gianluca Lapadula with a cross from just outside the penalty area. Lapadula evaded Miller and easily returned the ball from point-blank range. Peru was well represented in Orlando, which is not surprising given that 20% of all Peruvian immigrants in the United States claim Central and South Florida as their adopted home.
Led by former Brazil head coach Mano Menezes, La Blanquirroja are in the midst of a generational change after failing to qualify for two consecutive World Cups. Missing some notable pieces, the 60th-ranked Peruvians were largely outplayed by the United States and found their best chances through an occasional counterattack. Just like Pochettino did, Menezes rotated his team heavily without ever finding any real chemistry.
The American winner came from the penalty spot and involved another newcomer, Real Salt Lake forward Zavier Gozo. A foul on Gozo’s run on the other side of the box in the 65th minute led to the spot-kick, which Tillman coolly converted. Another debutant, the Red Bull New York Hall striker, who found himself courted by both the United States and Poland, iced things up for the United States with a flying finish from six yards out moments later. Middlesbrough midfielder Sebastian Berhalter added another in the 90th minute.
For his part, Sullivan was efficient during his 60-minute shift. The 16-year-old has been a revelation for the Union since the World Cup break, with six goals and eight assists, and he showed some of that energy on Saturday for the United States, combining well in attack with Ellis and others and proving a tough match for the Peruvian defenders. That enthusiasm boiled over a bit in the 23rd minute, when a goal-bound Sullivan collided with Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, earning Sullivan his first American yellow card.
The 11 debutants for the United States on Saturday are the most since 2024, when the same number made their debuts in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Slovenia. The American record for first cap is a dozen, having occurred twice: against Poland in 1973 and 15 years later in a friendly match against Guatemala.
The United States will travel to St. Louis on Saturday night ahead of Tuesday’s game against Chile at Energizer Park before traveling to Phoenix and Minneapolis for games against Mexico and Canada, respectively.
Gn sports
