Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 14 matches played on the 27th matchday of the 2024 MLS regular season on Wednesday, July 17.
Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan Makes History as Youngest Player to Debut in North American Major League Team Sports
Philadelphia Union Homegrown midfielder Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player to debut for a North American major league sports team last night, stepping onto the field at the age of 14 years and 293 days old. Sullivan’s history-making appearance surpasses the previous record holder, Freddy Adu, who made his debut at 14 years and 306 days old for D.C. United on April 3, 2004.
Sullivan came off the bench in the 85th minute with Philadelphia leading in Wednesday’s victory against the New England Revolution for his official MLS debut. The Union went on to defeat the Revolution, 5-1, including a goal by his older brother Quinn Sullivan (WATCH HERE).
A full list of the youngest debutants in each top North American professional sports league history:
- MLS (per Elias Sports Bureau) – Cavan Sullivan (14 years, 293 days)
- NWSL– Melanie Barcenas (15 years and 181 days)
- NBA(since 1970, per Elias Sports Bureau) – Andrew Bynum (18 years, 6 days)
- NHL(since 1970, per Elias Sports Bureau – Patrick Marleau (18 years, 16 days)
- MLB(since 1970, per Elias Sports Bureau) – David Clyde (18 years, 66 days)
- WNBA(per Elias Sports Bureau) – Maria Stepanova (19 years, 108 days)
- NFL(since 1970, per Elias Sports Bureau) – Amobi Okoye (20 years, 91 days)
Five of the top-10 youngest players to make their MLS debuts have done so since the start of the 2023 MLS regular season. Sullivan and the Union will close out their pre-MLS All-Star schedule on Saturday, July 20, as they host Nashville SC at Subaru Park (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
Baribo’s First-Career Hat Trick Propels Union to 5-1 Win
With many eyes on Cavan Sullivan ahead of his history-making debut, it was Tai Baribo who provided the firepower for Philadelphia, recording his first career hat trick in the Union’s 5-1 victory over the New England Revolution (Watch All Three Goals Here).
Baribo opened the scoring in the 29th minute, as a Kai Wagner free kick found Jack Elliott on the back post, whose sliding touch found Baribo for the opening score (Watch Here). He added his second goal of the first half in the 44th minute after Alejandro Bedoya’s through ball found a streaking Mikael Uhre, who then found a wide open Baribo in the box for the finish (Watch Here). The Israeli striker capped his hat trick in the 52nd minute as he received a sharp cross from Wagner, controlled with a nifty touch, and fired a right-footed rocket past the ‘keeper for his third goal of the match (Watch Here).
The striker became the fourth different Union player to record a hat trick since the start of the 2022 season, marking the only club to accomplish the feat over the span. The other three Philadelphia players to record at least one hat trick since 2022 are Julián Carranza, Dániel Gazdag, and Uhre.
In support of Baribo and the Union, Wagner notched a trio of assists and has 32 helpers since the start of the 2022 season. He is the only defender in MLS over the span with at least 30 assists and just the seventh player regardless of position to reach 30 assists over the last three seasons.
D.C.’s Dramatic Comeback Led by All-Stars Benteke and Herrera
Trailing 2-1 on the road against Minnesota United FC heading into the 90th minute, D.C. United’s All-Star duo of Christian Benteke and Aaron Herrera flipped the script to produce a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory. Benteke provided the assist on the equalizer to Herrera as he headed the ball across goal for the Guatemalan international to finish on the cusp of stoppage time (Watch Here). 101 seconds later, Benteke scored his second goal of the match to secure three points on the road (Watch Here).
It marked the fifth time in D.C. United history that they had scored the game-tying and game-winning goal in the 90th minute or later and the first instance since July 31, 2022. For Benteke, he now sits on 16 goals, just one behind Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango for the most in MLS this season. The Belgian’s brace was his fifth multi-goal game in 2024, tying Luciano Emilio (2007) and Raúl Díaz Arce (1996) for the most multi-goal games in a single season in club history.
Gressel Lends Helping Hand in 3-1 Inter Miami Victory
One of the top acquisitions of the offseason, Inter Miami CF midfielder Julian Gressel continues to be a driver on one of the league’s top offenses and provided two assists in the club’s 3-1 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday night. Gressel, who is tied for third in MLS with 12 assists this season, has recorded at least one assist in five consecutive matches dating back to June 19.
Gressel and teammate Lionel Messi, who recorded assists in six consecutive matches from March 2 through May 4, are only the second pair of teammates in MLS history to each record an assist streak of five-or-more matches in the same season. Gressel and Messi join Brian Maisonneuve (five games) and Andy Williams (seven games) of the 1998 Columbus Crew in accomplishing the feat.
Stefan Frei Adds to His ‘Keeper Milestones, Sounders Win Fifth Straight
A familiar face has once again inched higher and higher up the Western Conference standings as Seattle Sounders FC defeated St. Louis CITY SC, 2-0, at Lumen Field on Wednesday night. The win was the Sounders’ fifth straight victory, which marked the first time the club has accomplished the feat since 2018. Seattle is now up to sixth in the Western Conference (37 points, 10-7-7) and has a top-four position in their sights.
The winning streak has been helped by the strong play of Stefan Frei, who has now helped the club to clean sheets in three straight matches. For Frei, Wednesday’s home shutout was his 112th in the regular season, tying Kevin Hartman for the second most in MLS history. Seattle and Frei aim to keep their hot run going when they host LAFC on Saturday, July 20 (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
