By Alex Calabrese
CHICAGO — The Philadelphia Union can’t be stopped right now. Nor can the Cavan Sullivan hype train.
The Eastern Conference’s hottest team notched their eighth straight victory on Wednesday night, this time coming from behind to dispatch Chicago Fire FC, 3-1, at Soldier Field and extend their club-record unbeaten streak to 14 matches.
Sullivan’s second-half assist on the eventual game-winning goal marked his 21st goal contribution of the season (7g/14a), now officially the most ever by a teenager in a single MLS season.
“It seems like every week something else is popping up for him,” said interim head coach Ryan Richter postgame.
“I’m so happy for him, and a big emphasis for him is to continue to be decisive in games, and when he's chipping in with goals and assists, the way that he has over this last stretch, he's making the difference.”
Meteoric rise continues
There may be no bigger story in American soccer right now than Sullivan.
The Union entered halftime down a goal but up a man after Chicago defender Jack Elliott picked up a second yellow card. Union striker Milan Iloski tied it in the 49th minute, and moments later, Sullivan teed up Bruno Damiani to take the lead. The visitors never looked back.
With the assist, Sullivan surpassed Diego Fagúndez’s longstanding record for the most goal contributions in a season by a teenager; he’s also level with Lionel Messi and others with 14 assists, one behind league-leader Son Heung-Min (LAFC).
“His work rate's been great, his creativity's been great, but now he's been really decisive,” Richter said. “It's been for a long stretch now, so he deserves that, and we're proud of him.”
Never satisfied
Even after the Union’s eighth successive win and his 16th goal contribution in 10 games, Sullivan appeared unsatisfied. The 17-year-old homegrown star, who has turned heads for his MLS form and US men’s national team exploits, left the game wanting more, despite the positive result and record.
“I played sort of terrible tonight, so I’m not really focused on any records or stats like that, to be honest,” Sullivan said.
“I’m happy with the win, but I’ve sort of got to look in the mirror and watch some film and see what I have to do better. I’m not really happy with my personal performance, but, like I said, great win.”
“His mentality is great,” fellow Union and USMNT center back Neil Pierre said. “Obviously, he thinks he can do better, but obviously we support him in any way possible.”
Sullivan’s hunger is a main driving force behind the Union’s remarkable turnaround in the second half of the season, which saw them climb from the bottom of the East in July to within touching distance of the conference's top teams.
With key tests against Charlotte, New England, and Nashville still to come this month, the Union train is adding even more fuel to an engine that already seems borderline unstoppable.
“It’s a great run, something that we’re proud of,” Richter said. “It’s something that the guys have earned because of the way that they work every single day, the way that they’re focused, the way that they approach games, the dirty work that they’re willing to commit to during the games.”
Signature win?
The win over Chicago is especially meaningful. Gregg Berhalter’s team entered on a three-game winning streak, had comprehensively outplayed Philadelphia earlier in the season, and could still face them in the postseason.
It’s also the first time this season that the Union have defeated a top-four team in the East, adding real substance to their rapidly strengthening MLS Cup presented by Audi credentials.
“I think we’ve always had the confidence,” Pierre said. “Now the other teams and everyone else can see that we’re able to beat the top teams.”
“People doubt the Philadelphia Union,” Sullivan said. “They want to say that we’re only beating bottom-of-the-table teams. But we were once at the bottom of the table. So we’re just proving it week in and week out and hoping to keep this thing rolling.”
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