The Philadelphia Union booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions Cup after Cavan Sullivan starred in their 7-0 second-leg win over Defence Force.
The 16-year-old scored twice after providing two assists, with Geiner Martinez, Stas Korzeniowski, Jovan Lukic and Ben Bender also getting on the scoresheet as the MLS side won the first-round tie 12-0 on aggregate.
Martinez opened the floodgates after just seven minutes, picking out the bottom-left corner with a first-time finish in the box, before Lukic doubled their lead from the penalty spot following Shirwin Noel’s foul on Jeremy Rafanello.
Sullivan’s first contribution came in the 12th minute, playing Korzeniowski through on goal with a deft flick after great build-up play on the right wing from Philadelphia.
There were more early goals in the second half, with Korzeniowski scoring a second before Bender flashed a shot in at the near post from Sullivan’s lofted pass.
The teenager then took centre stage at Subaru Park, driving into the box and curling past Isaiah Williams for his first, before Sal Olivas teed Sullivan up for a simple tap-in in the 88th minute to conclude the rout.
Cavan Sullivan makes history in @TheChampions!#DOOP pic.twitter.com/6DN0m6vuzq
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) February 27, 2026
Data Debrief: Sullivan writes his name into the history books
It was as dominant a win as Bradley Carnell could have hoped for, with the Union producing 3.83 expected goals (xG) from 19 shots while restricting the Trinidad and Tobago side to 0 attempts in the second leg.
Sullivan’s goals were the first two of his professional career, while he directly contributed to five goals (two goals, three assists) across the two legs of this tie.
The 2009-born midfielder also became the youngest American player to ever score in the Champions Cup.
