Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player to appear in an MLS match, Tai Baribo had his first career hat trick and Kai Wagner had three assists to help the Philadelphia Union end a 10-game winless streak with a 5-1 victory over New England Revolution on Wednesday night.
Sullivan – 14 years, 293 days – replaced Baribo in the 85th minute, breaking the record by 13 days. Freddy Adu set the previous record at 14-306 when he made his debut for DC United in 2004.
Baribo gave Philadelphia (5-10-9) a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute, scoring with a header from assists by Jack Elliott and Wagner.
Jakob Glesnes took a pass from fellow defender Wagner and scored in the 39th minute for a two-goal lead. It was Glesnes’ first netter of the season.
Baribo scored five minutes later for a 3-0 lead at half-time, with Mikael Uhre notching his third assist and Alejandro Bedoya grabbing his fourth.
Ian Harkes had the lone goal for the Revolution (7-14-1), scoring his first of the season in the 50th minute. Esmir Bajraktarevic picked up his third assist of the season and his career.
Baribo completed his hat trick two minutes later with his seventh goal in seven starts and 11 appearances this season. Baribo had no goals in one start and five appearances last season, his first in the league. Wagner earned his 10th assist on the goal and Elliott his third.
Quinn Sullivan capped the Union’s scoring in the 84th minute with an assist from Glesnes. It was Sullivan’s third goal of the season and Glesnes’ third assist.
Goalkeeper Andre Blake was unable to make a save for Union in his return from a meniscus injury. It was his fifth start of the season and his first since April 27, a 2-1 home loss to Real Salt Lake.
Aljaž Ivačič made three saves for the Revolution.
Philadelphia won for just the second time in their last 18 games, the Union’s other victory coming in a 3-0 away win over the Revolution.
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In May, the Union formally announced that they had signed their academy prospect to a home-grown contract that will eventually take him to Manchester City.
The long-awaited deal – said to be the Richest Homegrown signing in Major League Soccer historyalthough no details have been released – will allow the Union to develop Sullivan further and capitalise on his abilities in the short term, before he reaps the benefits when he most likely moves abroad to play in the Premier League. The deal will also allow him to stay at home for a few more years as he matures.
Sullivan is considered one of the best American players of his generation. In an Under-15 match between the U.S. and England last April, he scored both of his team’s goals in a 2-2 draw that the Americans won in a penalty shootout. He was named the best player of the Concacaf Under-15 Championshipswhere he ended up with a couple of assists in a 4-2 victory over Mexico in the final.
The Union hosts Nashville SC on Saturday, while the Revolution returns home to play FC Dallas on Saturday.