USA crush Peru 4-1 as Pochettino's youngsters launch 2030 World Cup cycle in style
Playing their first match of the 2030 World Cup cycle, the United States men's national team crushed Peru 4-1 at Orlando's Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, riding a second-half surge powered by a wave of teenage debutants.
Ellis strikes early, Lapadula answers
It took less than four minutes for debutant Justin Ellis to score on his home ground in Orlando. The Orlando City attacker met Giovanni Reyna's left-sided free-kick with a glancing header that went in off the far post. Ellis had been involved in the build-up that led to the set piece, part of a nifty interchange with midfielder Malik Tillman that ended with Ellis drawing a foul some 25 yards from goal. "Reyna's service was excellent; Ellis' headed finish was awkward but perfectly-placed at the far post," the Guardian reported.
Peru responded well to the setback and equalised within 11 minutes. Yoshimar Yotun looped a lovely cross into the far post, and Gianluca Lapadula sent his header back across goal to restore parity in the 14th minute, eluding debutant defender Peyton Miller to nod home from close range.
The teenager at the centre of the pre-match buzz, 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan, made his full US debut in the starting XI. "His appearance in the US starting XI makes him the youngest player to feature for the national team in over two decades," the Guardian noted. Sullivan was effective during his 60-minute shift and has been a revelation for the Union since the World Cup break, with six goals and eight assists, but his enthusiasm spilled over in the 23rd minute when a goal-crashing Sullivan collided with Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, earning his first US yellow card.
Tillman, Hall and Berhalter seal it
The winner came from the penalty spot. Fotmob credits substitute Mathis Albert with winning the spot-kick after cutting inside from the left and being shoved on the edge of the box in the 64th minute, while the Guardian reports the foul came on Zavier Gozo's run into the far side of the box a minute later. Either way, Malik Tillman stepped up to guide his spot-kick into the bottom-left corner, with Gallese diving the right way but unable to get a touch.
Julian Hall, the Red Bull New York attacker who has been courted by both the US and Poland, then got a debut goal of his own, getting between two defenders at the far post to tap in a dangerous low cross in the 72nd minute. Sebastian Berhalter rounded off the scoring in the 90th minute with a stunning long-range finish that nestled into the top corner, giving Gallese no chance.
A new generation answers the call
Mauricio Pochettino's roster for this international window blended regulars with a host of uncapped youngsters, and the head coach was rewarded for his boldness. All told, 11 players received their first cap for the US — the most since 2024, when the same number debuted in a 1-0 friendly loss to Slovenia — with three of them, Sullivan, Ellis and Miller, in the starting XI. Bournemouth midfielder and 2022 World Cup captain Tyler Adams was given the armband for the first time under Pochettino.
The US head coach made 10 changes from the side that was knocked out of the World Cup in the round of 16 by Belgium, and his youngsters impressed, racking up 16 shots worth 2.39 expected goals, with six on target, while conceding only two shots on target. "Pochettino shook up his pack, bringing on a lot of debutants, and he has now been given a good headache by his young players," Fotmob wrote.
Peru in transition
Led by former Brazil head coach Mano Menezes, La Blanquirroja are in the midst of a generational turnover after failing to qualify for two consecutive World Cups. Missing a few notable pieces, the 60th-ranked Peruvians were badly out-possessed by the US and found their best chances via an occasional counterattack.
What's next
The US will head to St Louis ahead of Tuesday's match against Chile at Energizer Park, before travelling to Phoenix and Minneapolis for matches against Mexico and Canada respectively.