Union interim boss wants Sullivan in USMNT frame

Philadelphia Union interim head coach Ryan Richter wants to help Cavan Sullivan push on for a United States call-up after the 16-year-old has enjoyed more minutes in recent games and could feature against New York City FC.

Sullivan has featured more often under Richter, starting in all three MLS games since the World Cup break and in two of their three Leagues Cup matches. He scored and assisted in a 3-1 win over Liga MX side Necaxa, though he was rested against Santos Laguna as the Union prepare for their MLS meeting with New York City FC.

Mauricio Pochettino’s USA side will face Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada during the upcoming international break, and Richter wants to see Sullivan challenge for a place in the squad.

“That’s not my job, to pick that [USA] team,” Richter said. “But I think that he is getting better every game and challenging him to do the good things he is doing and then, on top of that, be productive with goals and assists… this is a big step for him.”

“Whatever comes in the next window, or the next one after that, that part is the job of U.S. Soccer, and our job is to keep pushing Cavan to raise his level so that he is considered for that. He has been dangerous every game and he has been in positions where he is getting his opportunities.”

Union climb out of basement

Philadelphia have won all three MLS games since Bradley Carnell’s sacking, moving them off the bottom of the Eastern Conference. New York City FC are also unbeaten in their three games since returning to MLS action with two wins and a draw, sitting seventh in the East.

Players to watch

New York City FC – Nicolas Fernandez
Fernandez has scored in four consecutive regular-season games, tying the third-longest streak in New York City FC’s history. Only Valentin Castellanos (six in 2020–21) and Heber (five in 2019) have had a longer scoring streak during the regular season in team history.

Philadelphia Union – Kai Wagner
Wagner provided a pair of assists in Philadelphia’s comeback win over Atlanta United last time out in MLS. It marked Wagner’s ninth regular-season match with multiple assists for the Union, three more such games than any other player in team history.

Match context and prediction

NYCFC scored in the eighth minute of a 1–1 draw with Toronto FC in the club’s last regular-season match on July 31. Their 18 first-half goals this season are the fourth-most in MLS, and nine of the last 12 goals the team has scored have been in the first half.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, scored an equaliser at 95:07 and a match-winning goal at 96:27 to secure a 3-2 win over Atlanta in their most recent league game. Since Opta began detailed tracking in 2010, it was the second time an MLS team has scored twice after the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time in a regular-season match.

In 24 previous regular-season meetings between NYCFC and Philadelphia, both teams have won 11 matches, with two draws. Five of the last six regular-season league meetings have been decided by exactly one goal, including each of the last three.

Opta win probability: New York City FC 44.9%, Draw 25.2%, Philadelphia Union 29.9%.