Historic night for Cavan Sullivan, who scores twice in the Union’s Champions Cup rout of Defence Force
His two goals, coupled with two assists, saw Sullivan, 16, become the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Next up for the Union, rivals NYCFC visit Subaru Park on Sunday
Cavan Sullivan scored twice for the Union in the team’s 7-0 rout of Defence Force F.C. at Subaru Park on Thursday night, netting his first in the 76th minute and a second in the 88th.
Despite being the club’s most talked about prospect, Sullivan, the team’s 16-year old midfielder who will join Manchester City at the end of 2027, had been scoreless for the Union in 19 appearances leading up to Thursday night’s match.
But his two goals, which were also coupled with two assists, found him become the youngest goalscorer in Champions Cup history.
“Happy to score my first goal,” Sullivan said. “Two of them, actually. It was pretty special.”
Former Penn product Stas Korzeniowski also scored twice in the win, while Geiner Martínez, Jovan Lukić, and Ben Bender each scored once for the Union.
The first series in the Concacaf Champion Cup saw the Union outscore Defence Force, 12-0, over two legs. Now, with their first round series win, the Union advance to face Liga MX giant Club América in the round of 16.
Martínez opens the floodgates
Geiner Martínez opened the scoring with a goal in the seventh minute. It was his first goal for the club, which signed the centerback in the offseason.
Jovan Lukić scored a second from the penalty spot in the 10th. Jeremy Rafanello earned the penalty after being brought down in the 18-yard box, and Lukić converted the kick past Defence Force goalkeeper Isaiah Williams.
Thursday night was the first appearance of the season for Lukić, who missed the Union’s previous two games with a minor injury.
Korzeniowski added a third in the 12th minute, his first for the Union’s first team since the club selected the former Quakers striker in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.
Cavan Sullivan was credited with an assist on the goal after sending Korzeniowski past Defence Force’s back line. Sullivan’s flick was the final pass of a five-pass combination, one that took the Union into halftime up, 3-0. Sal Olivas and Bender entered the game as second half substitutes, replacing Lukić and Olwethu Makhanya.
Korzeniowski scored his second goal of the night to put the Union up, 4-0, in the 48th minute. Ezekiel Alladoh, a forward the club acquired for $4.5 million in December, was credited with an assist on Korzeniowski’s goal.
Bender scored in the 53rd minute, giving Sullivan earning another assist. Sullivan played a lofted ball to Bender in the 18-yard box that Bender collected before sending a strike into the back of the net.
Malik Jakupovic made his Union debut in the 59th minute, coming off the bench to replace Korzeniowski. The 16-year old forward is a product of the Union’s academy who has played for the U.S.’s under-17 youth national team.
Jesús Bueno replaced Alejandro Bedoya in the 75th minute, which stood as the final substitution of the night for the Union. And then it was Sullivan’s night to ice the cake.
“It was a good statement from us as a club,” Union manager Bradley Carnell said. “Just to be able to play all the young guys and get rewarded, and guys getting goals and contributions.”
Up next...
After a 1-0 loss at D.C. United last weekend, the Union will host New York City FC in their first home match of the Major League Soccer season on Sunday (4:30 p.m., Apple TV).
New York (0-0-1, 1 point) knocked the Union out of the playoffs last season with a 1-0 victory in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“Everybody wants to be part of Sunday,” Carnell said. “Everyone wants to play and put off a good performance. It’s a derby. We know what it’s all about.”
The Union’s next Champions Cup match will be against Liga MX giant Club América at Subaru Park on March 10. The away leg of the two-game series is scheduled for March 18 at famed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.