Inquirer.com – Zurich DR

Category: Soccer/Union

  • Cavan Sullivan scores his first USMNT goal with a highlight-reel chip to help beat archrival Mexico

    Cavan Sullivan scores his first USMNT goal with a highlight-reel chip to help beat archrival Mexico

    GLENDALE, Ariz. — Cavan Sullivan scored his first goal for the U.S. men’s soccer team on Saturday night, and he did it in spectacular fashion.

    In the latest edition of the U.S.-Mexico rivalry, the 17-year-old Union phenom stole pass and launched a nearly 35-yard chip shot for the Americans’ second goal of a 3-0 win, electrifying a packed crowd at State Farm Stadium.

    It made him the youngest goal-scorer in senior U.S. men’s team history at 17 years and 5 days.

    Sullivan was in the starting lineup for the second time in three games, as U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino fulfilled a pregame promise to have another mix of youth and veterans.

    It was no surprise that for a game of this magnitude, Pochettino went with eight veterans instead of a closer-to-even split. The other two newcomers were striker Julian Hall, who impressed with a goal in each of the two previous games, and goalkeeper Diego Kochen.

    Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield savor ‘a pinch-me moment’ with their USMNT debuts

    The veteran contingent included Media’s Auston Trusty, who started at centerback next to Chris Richards. It was Trusty’s second time facing Mexico, two years after his first came in a friendly in Guadalajara.

    Almost everything about the surroundings was as expected, including the pro-Mexico crowd. (It was always going to be that way in this part of the country, as it would be at any NFL stadium.) The one surprise was Mexico’s late scratch of its teen sensation, Gilberto Mora, due to an ankle injury.

    Sábado gigante:

    #USMNT #ElTriEng

    [image or embed]

    — Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) October 3, 2026 at 7:04 PM

    Mexico had the better of the play for most of the first half-hour, which was also expected with its veteran-laden squad. But the U.S. scored first by hitting El Tri in one of its biggest weak spots: goalkeeper.

    In the 28th minute, a rare moment arose when Mexico’s press backed off the U.S. defense. That allowed Americans the Americans to put together one of their first sustained passing sequences of the night.

    The U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry returns to the big stage where it belongs

    It led to Sebastian Berhalter sending Alex Freeman up the right wing, and he played a ball between two defenders that Gio Reyna hustled to reach in open space. As Reyna neared the end line, he turned a half-shot-half-pass back toward the middle. Mexican netminder Raúl Rangel completely misplayed it, and Hall pounced for his latest smart finish.

    Sullivan didn’t do much attack-wise in the first half, but he was a lively high-presser — which no doubt will have pleased the U.S. coaching staff. He was on the ball much more in the early stages of the second half, and made some incisive runs.

    Kochen took the spotlight in the 58th with a leaping save of Roberto Alvarado’s shot off a free kick sequence. There had been some iffy moments for the 20-year-old up to then, in his second national team game and first start. But that play showed why his prospect stock is so high.

    Then came the moment that will live on highlight reels for a long time.

    Rangel stood on the ball well outside his 18-yard box looking for a teammate to pass to. His eventual play was a softball on the ground that Sullivan jumped on. A turn and first touch settled the ball, and his second touch was a chip shot from nearly 35 yards. It sailed over Rangel and floated right into the middle of the net.

    A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S. Soccer

    As the crowd erupted, Sullivan screamed, then ran to the corner of the stands near where the U.S. substitutes were warming up — including Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield. Within seconds, the entire American squad had swarmed him to celebrate.

    Sullivan emerged in the grasp of a big embrace from two of the most experienced veterans, Richards and Robinson. Adams, newly re-appointed as the U.S. captain, arrived next for another bearhug and an exchange of words.

    The moment felt with emotional significance. And if that wasn’t enough, the scoreboard told another story to savor. It read 2-0 — dos a cero. The Americans’ favorite score against their favorite rival lived again, thanks to their bright new stars.

    For Cavan Sullivan, ‘the dream is reality’ in a successful USMNT debut against Peru

    But this time, that wasn’t the final score. Malik Tillman capped things off in the 85th, outhustling Mexican centerback Diego Campillo to a loose ball and smashing it first-time from 12 yards.

    Between those goals, there was one of many old-fashioned ruckuses like these teams have always had. In the 69th, Mexico’s Mateo Chávez barged into Yunus Musah off the ball, and referee Selvin Brown of Honduras gave Chávez a straight red card.

    Sullivan exited right after his goal, replaced by Yunus Musah. Justin Ellis entered for Hall at the same time. In the final minutes, Pochettino used three more of the eight total subs available to him: Brooklyn Raines for Reyna, Peyton Miller for Berhalter, and Mathis Albert for Tillman.

    By the end, most of the crowd was streaming for the exits. But the U.S. fans stuck around, and serenaded the team with a rendition of John Denver’s “Country Roads,” the song that became the team’s anthem at the World Cup.

  • The U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry returns to center stage in Saturday’s friendly

    The U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry returns to center stage in Saturday’s friendly

    TEMPE, Ariz. — It’s understandable that the U.S. men’s soccer team had other things to think about for a while as it built toward the privilege of a World Cup on home soil.

    Now that the summer has passed, the program can turn its attention back to things it traditionally has focused on.

    The Americans will return to the Concacaf Nations League in next month’s quarterfinals and hope to reach March’s final four. Next summer brings the biennial Gold Cup, the official crowning of the continent’s top team.

    Along with renewing old acquaintances, the U.S. is returning to tournaments it failed to win last year. The Nations League was an especially bad failure: losses to Panama in the semifinals and Canada in the third-place game led to manager Mauricio Pochettino tearing down a complacent squad.

    Mauricio Pochettino (right) during Friday’s U.S. practice in Phoenix.Jonathan Tannenwald

    But before those competitions, there will be what Pochettino likes to call “nonofficial” matchups with the U.S.’s two biggest rivals: Mexico on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz. (10 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62), and Canada on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn. (8 p.m., TNT, Universo).

    The first matchup is the bigger of the two, with all due respect to the Canucks and fiery Wisconsin-born manager Jesse Marsch. Even he knows that U.S.-Mexico is the continent’s most famous clash.

    Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield savor ‘a pinch-me moment’ with their USMNT debuts

    El Tri is also the most common opponent the U.S. has faced, with 92 previous meetings dating back to 1934. But it’s been 15 months since the last meeting, matching the longest gap in a decade and a half.

    The absence hasn’t really made hearts grow fonder. It has been evident, though, since a new generation of American players is set for an initiation.

    Cavan Sullivan (center) could be in line for his first game against Mexico with the senior U.S. national team.Jonathan Tannenwald

    “Every young player that’s coming to camp has watched these games growing up, I’m sure of it,” said veteran midfielder Tyler Adams, who this week regained the U.S. team’s captaincy. “They understand what these games are like and what they need to do to be able to have an impact on it. But at the same time, it’s an opportunity for them to get thrown into the deep end as well and really get their feet wet.”

    That will include facing a pro-Mexico crowd, as typically is the case when the teams meet in friendlies. Over 60,000 tickets have been sold at the 63,400-seat State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.

    A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S. Soccer

    “It’s about [helping] to build our character, if we have some adversity — for that group, it’s going to be good,” Pochettino said. “I celebrate this, to have this type of game to play in a difficult atmosphere, and I think that for sure is going to help for the future.”

    Right-flank playmaker Sergiño Dest was introduced to the rivalry in a 2019 friendly in which the U.S. was blown out in the Meadowlands. Two years later, he helped the Americans win an epic Nations League final, the first of three straight titles in the tournament.

    “These games, I feel like it’s the real culture and the real passion of football,” he said. “Playing with America against Mexico is one of the best games here, and it’s going to be a tough game.”

    Mexico snapped the U.S.’s streak last year, though the Americans did it to themselves just as much. Four months later, El Tri won the Gold Cup final against an American squad that lacked many top players but was full of controversy: Christian Pulisic’s withdrawal, the Club World Cup running consecutively, and Pochettino’s benchings.

    Union alum Auston Trusty embraces being a USMNT role model for Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre

    Since then, Mexico has stood alone atop the podium, owning all five Concacaf men’s titles: the Nations League, the Gold Cup, and the under-20, under-17, and under-15 championships.

    Adams admitted that the team hasn’t talked about the big picture much, as there’s enough on the collective plate during this busy window of friendlies. But he said it is worth discussing.

    Tyler Adams (third from right) with his teammates at Friday’s practice.Jonathan Tannenwald

    “Football swings back and forth and [has] different momentum, and you go through phases and rebuilding periods and all these different periods — but that doesn’t take away from the rivalry of what this game is and how important it is for us to win,” Adams said. “We obviously want it to swing back in our favor, but that starts without performance. We know that if we perform at a high level, and we do the things that we’re supposed to in the right way, that we obviously can, but it’s a difficult game, and we need to make sure that we go out there and compete.”

    So while Saturday’s game is just a friendly, it’s a chance to make an opening statement in the 2030 World Cup cycle.

    For Cavan Sullivan, ‘the dream is reality’ in a successful USMNT debut

    And if there’s a little brimstone along the way, it will be nothing new.

    “There was a glimpse of the fire that teams like that can bring at the end of the Chile game,” left back Antonee Robinson said, referring to a benches-clearing brawl on Thursday that sparked when La Roja’s Leandro Hernández prodded U.S. goalkeeper Brian Schwake after he had claimed the ball. “So we’ve just been saying to the young boys that you’re going to expect that and a lot more when we play against Mexico.”

  • Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield savor ‘a pinch-me moment’ with their USMNT debuts

    Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield savor ‘a pinch-me moment’ with their USMNT debuts

    TEMPE, Ariz. — In another world, Cavan Sullivan might have followed his 8-year-old self’s baseball dreams in Bridesburg and become a shortstop.

    Maybe Frankie Westfield would have joined his siblings in football or basketball at Father Judge High, not far from their home in Northeast Philadelphia’s Morrell Park. Perhaps Neil Pierre would have heeded those who saw his surging frame in Blue Bell and stuck with his young love of the hardwood.

    In this world, though, none of those things happened. They chose a different game, coming together on their local soccer team. And now, as the young men turn into adults, the world’s game has launched them into the spotlight.

    They haven’t had much time to appreciate it lately, between the Union’s frantic summer and their first journey with the senior U.S. men’s national team. This week, a moment finally arrived, as the trio sat down together to talk with their hometown newspaper.

    Over their shoulders on a hotel terrace, the sun baked a sweeping view of a metropolis in a desert — about as un-Philadelphian as a landscape gets. But within seconds, it felt like they were right back home.

    Neil Pierre (center) and Cavan Sullivan (right) working out together during Thursday’s U.S. practice in Phoenix.Jonathan Tannenwald

    “The chemistry is obviously there,” Sullivan said. “We enjoy every second we play together and we try and have fun, all while competing, and we like to all do it with a positive mindset. I’m really happy and honored to be with these guys, and proud of them.”

    At times, there’s more to take in off the field than on it: new teammates and coaches, practices, meetings, and a hectic travel schedule of five cities in 18 days.

    A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S. Soccer

    “It just makes it easier, being with the guys that you know and you grew up with throughout the academy,” Westfield said. “I know it’s a long time away from our team, but just having these two guys to have alongside, to join in with conversation or whether it’s at dinner tables or stuff like that with the other guys, just makes it so much easier.”

    As young as they all are, they’re already accustomed to living in a fishbowl. Sullivan, who just turned 17, is the biggest example: swooned over by the world’s chattering classes as he awaits a future with English power Manchester City. Pierre, 18, also has a growing legion of suitors, reportedly including Spanish juggernaut Barcelona.

    Frankie Westfield (left) and Cavan Sullivan sharing a laugh on the practice field.Jonathan Tannenwald

    Westfield, 20, isn’t quite that famous yet. But while brother Rocco was winning back-to-back Catholic League hoops titles, Frankie was becoming a locked-in Union starter and major prospect for the 2028 U.S. Olympic team.

    ‘This is our dream’

    Each has gained much from this, and stands to gain much more. They also realize the scale of sacrifices required.

    Neil Pierre could be on the cusp of his next star turn at his first USMNT camp

    It struck a chord with many people when Pierre said last week that his six-month loan to Denmark’s Lyngby earlier this year was the closest thing he’ll have to a college experience. He and the others will never have a traditional young adulthood.

    “Yeah, we didn’t get to go to college, but we’re obviously very grateful for where we’re at,” said Pierre, who has been taking online courses through a partnership between MLS and Syracuse University. Sullivan will begin the same program soon.

    Whether with the Union or the national team, Neil Pierre (left) always stands out thanks to his 6-foot-7 frame.Jonathan Tannenwald

    “Growing up, for all three of us, this is our dream, the days that we live now,” said Westfield, who backed out of a commitment to Penn State in 2024 to turn pro with the Union. “We wake up, we get to play soccer every single day. We’ve always dreamed of that, and also, to represent our country has been one of our biggest dreams growing up. “

    He then spoke just as strongly about the value of time away from the field and keeping watch on one’s mental health.

    Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield’s USMNT debuts vs. Peru weren’t forgotten amid Cavan Sullivan’s hype

    “Just to clear our minds and get away from other things like that, I think that’s one of the biggest importances of recovery,” he said. “In terms of mentally staying sharp, just getting away from the game is also how we stay sharp in a way.”

    All three players made their senior national team debuts in the opener of this four-game set of friendlies, last Saturday against Peru. Sullivan earned his first start that day, and Westfield and Pierre earned their first starts three days later against Chile.

    Imagine, even if you aren’t a soccer fan, the emotions of the moment: walking through the tunnel and onto the field, a USA crest on your shirt, then standing for the national anthems.

    The rest of us might take the scene for granted, given how often it happens. But players don’t, especially when it’s their first time.

    For all the hype, Cavan Sullivan has genuinely earned his moment on the USMNT’s biggest stage

    “It’s kind of cliché to say you can get goose bumps and stuff, but honestly, like that’s what I felt like,” Westfield said.

    “It’s so different from your club — it’s way more than that, it’s bigger than that, it’s your whole nation,” Pierre said. “To have that pride and also that responsibility, the weight of the country on your shoulders. … It was just an amazing feeling.”

    Sullivan thought of his parents, who were in the stands watching another milestone for a three-generation soccer family.

    “The national anthem means a lot to me, and I take pride in singing it and also having goose bumps,” he said. “I was representing my family that day, but also my entire nation. To be able to do that is pretty special.”

    For Cavan Sullivan, ‘the dream is reality’ in a successful USMNT debut

    Their first shot at the U.S.’ best rivalry

    As they spoke, they awaited the marquee moment of this stretch: Saturday’s showdown with Mexico at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (10 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62). It will be the teams’ first meeting since the Gold Cup final 15 months ago, and so much has happened since then that the rivalry has fallen off the marquee.

    This game will bring it roaring back, with a near-capacity crowd expected at the 63,400-seat home of the NFL’s Cardinals.

    The U.S. and Mexico last met in last year’s Gold Cup final, when Alex Freeman (center) was among the U.S. players auditioning for the World Cup.Ashley Landis

    “We all grew up watching USA-Mexico,” Sullivan said, “from when …”

    He paused for a moment, looked across the table, and said, “I’ve got to be careful.”

    The veterans on hand laughed, and excused him — though with a brief pause for a history lesson. This reporter’s first U.S.-Mexico epic was the inaugural “Dos a Cero” triumph 25 years ago. A U.S. Soccer staffer in the next chair had been around even longer.

    Mark Franek quit being a lawyer to teach the history of U.S. soccer to the future of U.S. soccer

    Then it was back to the present, and Sullivan’s first chance to make his mark.

    “It’s USA-Mexico, and it’s the biggest game of our lives,” Sullivan said. “So we’re trying to take it day by day, but we are excited.”

    Pierre relayed the excitement across the U.S. camp: “Coming from the U.S. staff and everyone, we know this is a big game. … We used to watch these games, and now to be there, it’s just an amazing feeling.”

    Westfield affirmed that they’re all up for it.

    How the Union’s Leagues Cup experience set the stage for their prospects to face Mexico

    “I won’t lie, we’ve been talking about it for a while now, before we even left for this,” he said. “Guys may fold up in moments like this where it’s bigger occasions, a bigger team in terms of Mexico, but these are moments you live for. These are the games you play for, and these are the games you live for, and we’re looking forward to going out there.”

    Nor do these guys take for granted doing it as Philadelphia Union players specifically. They know they are part of a lineage, and that Auston Trusty is as proud to be with them on this roster as Alejandro Bedoya is to watch from back home.

    Auston Trusty (left) on the ball in front of Cavan Sullivan during a training drill.Jonathan Tannenwald

    “They say keep doing what you’re doing, trust in the process,” Pierre said.

    “The proof is in the pudding, right?” Sullivan added. “The message from the Union and from those national team guys is just be yourself, and do what got you here when you make it to camp. And I think Neil, Frankie and I are trying to do just that.”

    Union alum Auston Trusty embraces being a USMNT role model for Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre

    Westfield knew the names in that lineage just as well, from Bedoya’s era to more recent ones like Brenden Aaronson and Nathan Harriel.

    “Seeing them grow and also represent the national team only gives younger guys like us confidence, knowing that we can go out there and do that as well,” he said.

    Frankie Westfield having some fun in practice.Jonathan Tannenwald

    They appreciate the welcome they’ve gotten from the rest of this U.S. team’s veterans, which is not to be taken for granted. The culture certainly isn’t like that on the club side of the world’s game, and it often isn’t with other national teams, either.

    “I feel like all these guys accepted us into our family,” Pierre said. “We had a team dinner and we all talked about it: even though this is the first time, it’s like we’re a whole family already. We laugh, sit, you can talk to anyone, it’s no stress. I think it’s a very good bond that we’ve had.”

    This year’s World Cup served as the ultimate proof of how big global soccer stars have become in America

    There are still reminders of how young the trio are, and that each step is to be taken one at a time. But it’s a milestone on its own that they have made it this far, and they clearly won’t forget it.

    “We used to call these guys by their last names: [Gio] Reyna, [Sergiño] Dest,” Sullivan said. “Now we know them on a first-name basis. Every moment is sort of like a pinch-me moment, and we’re having fun.”

  • In his rightful spot as the Union’s main striker, Milan Iloski is doing more than scoring goals

    In his rightful spot as the Union’s main striker, Milan Iloski is doing more than scoring goals

    Just how much of a team player is Milan Iloski?

    During an interview in March conducted while Iloski was serving in a hybrid role under former Union manager Bradley Carnell, both the coach and player confirmed that his role was essentially meant to be the glue, the bridge between the opposition’s final third and the goal.

    But what did that message mean to Iloski’s subconscious?

    Milan, you’ll still get your opportunities, but they’ll be fewer in your new role as the support system we believe we need offensively right now.

    For Cavan Sullivan, ‘the dream is reality’ in a successful USMNT debut

    Here’s how Iloski explained it back in March.

    “For me, I love playing next to someone up top and I like scoring goals,” he told The Inquirer. “But also, I can be that creative player who can come inside or can float underneath the strikers. So, for me, I’m open to anything that can help the team. And I’m totally bought in. So whatever the staff needs from me is what I’ll try and provide.”

    How diplomatic of him, knowing now that he was miserable.

    Not miserable enough that he couldn’t still score a team high seven goals by the time the Union limped into the FIFA World Cup break. But enough to know that this role was not sustainable, even if he was taking advantage of his fleeting moments in front of goal.

    But since the team’s return to the pitch, while much of the spotlight has gone to the Union’s young guns, the limelight has been Iloski’s to the tune of 16 goals, finishing that run with a hat trick against Orlando City on Saturday to head into a weeklong break for FIFA’s international window.

    “When [interim coach Ryan] Richter came in and the new staff, it was really clear what we were going to do with me, and it was to switch me back into what I’ve been used to, and I was super happy to hear that,” Iloski said. “So really comfortable, really happy. And I feel like I’m impacting games, which is really important.”

    What sparked Mark McKenzie’s return to the Union? Being closer to ‘family,’ on and off the field

    One can easily tell he’s much happier now.

    Proof of that came by way of the smile Iloski flashed when talking about the freedom he has under Richter. He’s the club’s target man again.

    “I mean, that’s what I was brought here to do and the position I was brought into to play,” Iloski said. “It’s where I’ve had all the success in my career really.

    Milan Iloski (center) celebrates with defender Kai Wagner (right) and Quinn Sullivan in the Union’s 4-2 win against Orlando City last Saturday.Courtesy / Philadelphia Unio

    The “fun” he had last Saturday led to an MLS Man of the Matchday Award alongside teammate Indiana Vassilev, who had a goal of his own and two assists in their 4-2 win. The team, now producing goals at a feverish rate, recently set the club record for an unbeaten streak at 12 games, and tied an MLS record for having taken the most points (32) from any 12-game span in league history.

    Over those 12 games, you can credit Iloski with nine goals in that time. He’s also been sharing a good deal of the responsibilities with fellow striker Bruno Damiani, who has also turned it on as of late to the tune of five goals in the last five matches, including a hat trick of his own in the club’s 5-0 rout of FC Cincinnati on Sept. 9.

    “Me and Bruno have a great connection up there and really work well together,” Iloski said. ”It’s been a lot of fun and a guy I’ve been pushing to play alongside for a while. When [coach] Richter came in and the new staff, it was made really clear that that was what we were going to do, and I was super happy to hear that.”

    Iloski and the Union aren’t resting on these good vibes even though they were afforded a weeklong respite from MLS action due to the break for the latest FIFA international window. He noted that the job is not over and that there’s still plenty of work to be done.

    The difference is, for the first time in quite some time, he did it with what felt like an all-knowing smile across his face.

    Milan Iloski’s 16 goals ranks tied for third-best in Major League Soccer. Courtesy / Philadelphia Unio

    “It’s important that we don’t allow ourselves to get too wrapped up in the moment,” Iloski said. “I mean you saw it in this [last] game [against Orlando] … it’s easy to lose a little bit of focus there when you’re up 4-0. We know what we want and how we all want this season to end. All of this doesn’t matter if at the end of the day we’re not in a good position to chase what every other team is chasing, so we just need to get out there and finish the job.”

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Union soccer right here!
  • What sparked Mark McKenzie’s return to the Union? Being closer to ‘family,’ on and off the field

    What sparked Mark McKenzie’s return to the Union? Being closer to ‘family,’ on and off the field

    Mark McKenzie still can’t quite put his finger on it, but a return to Chester feels right.

    On Wednesday, his professional career came full circle when the Union officially announced that he will join the team on Jan. 1 via a designated player contract during January’s FIFA transfer window. McKenzie, 27, will return to the club “that took a chance on him” when he joined its first team in 2018, after grooming the central defender for years in its youth academy and developmental teams.

    He will enter coming off a year as a mainstay on the backline of Toulouse in France’s Ligue 1, with performances that caught the eye of U.S. national team coach Mauricio Pochettino. That landed him a spot on this past summer’s 26-man roster for the FIFA World Cup.

    So how did the Union ultimately land McKenzie? It definitely took some convincing. He had options from other clubs in Europe, and his decision to return wasn’t just a simple phone call from Union brass. However, to hear McKenzie tell it, when he was looking for what would come next in his now nine seasons as a professional, Philly checked a lot of boxes.

    “I don’t think it was necessarily a ‘who called who,’” said McKenzie. “It was more of I was looking for something next in my career, and to be honest [initially, I] couldn’t pinpoint exactly what that was. Some players want more money. Some players want to play in certain leagues, or play in the [UEFA] Champions League. Some players just want to go home.

    Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield’s USMNT debuts vs. Peru weren’t forgotten amid Cavan Sullivan’s hype

    “I think for me it was a mix of different things. And my agent and I were on the same page with what I wanted and what I envisioned for that next step. So we were putting out feelers and figuring out what that would look like.”

    With that as the mindset, McKenzie said his agency representation at The.Team met with Union sporting director Jon Scheer and others on whether a move back would even be viable. It took stages, but according to McKenzie, it worked out that Philly felt like the right choice for the Bear, Del., native, with several family members still in the area.

    In May, Mark McKenzie (center, right) battles Senegal forward Sadio Mané during an exhibition match ahead of the World Cup.Scott Kinser

    Scheer told The Inquirer that convincing McKenzie meant a face-to-face with him and his representation, meeting McKenzie outside of the country just before preparations began for the World Cup.

    “We went out to Spain to speak with him and his agent, and for us it was more a gauge to see where his head was at and what he wanted to do next,” said Scheer. “It wasn’t necessarily easy, as he had options, but at the end of the day, I think we offered a package and an opportunity for him to come home and that’s something he wanted.”

    The dollar amount of that total package remains to be seen but could be revealed when the Union holds their official news conference to announce McKenzie, scheduled for a virtual conference later today at 12:30 p.m. For McKenzie, who is expected to rejoin the team on a designated player contract, he says coming home will still allow him to “continue to develop.”

    Mark McKenzie (left) spent three seasons with French Ligue 1 club, Toulouse FC. Emma Da Silva

    Success in bunches

    Even before his departure for Europe, McKenzie knew immense success with the Union. As a homegrown player, he played along the club’s back line for former coach Jim Curtin, and helped guide the team to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2018-20.

    The 2020-21 season saw him head to Belgium’s Genk on a transfer valued at $6 million. He’d celebrate winning the Belgian Cup later that season with Genk, and go on to play two more seasons before a move to France’s Ligue 1 and finding himself a mainstay on Toulouse’s starting 11. It was his performances there that enabled him to earn that spot on the national team roster for the World Cup.

    He says that all of those stops along the way have helped him grow as a player and as a person in his professional career, choosing to go the gradual approach to stardom as opposed to a big splash that felt unnatural.

    “There was the possibility to go to maybe a bigger league or to a different club [from the Union my first time around], but I think for me, I wanted to take steps that were right for me,” McKenzie said. “I feel that too many times, especially young players, they get fixated on the idea of going to maybe a big club or going somewhere that looks optically like the thing to do, and then end up regretting it, or end up going and bouncing along.

    Mark McKenzie (left) battles Australia’s Connor Metcalfe during their international friendly last year. David Zalubowski

    “I wanted to go somewhere where I can develop, where I can play meaningful minutes, where I could be seen for the player I was and the person I was, and still be challenged in the same way. And going to Belgium from Philly was like that first step for me in getting my feet wet in Europe.”

    Dive deeper and McKenzie says the moves all along the way were more strategic, in terms of acclimating to the rigors of European soccer than being thrust into it from the outset.

    “I was able to experience the [UEFA] Champions League, Europa League and Conference League and after going through those years, it was like, all right, well, what’s the next step now? It was a strategic step of how can I make sure that I’m one, playing week in and week out, and two, still playing against some of the best players in the world and showcasing what I can do against the best in the world.”

    Union’s wild unbeaten streak continues with a dominant win over Orlando City

    Now McKenzie says he gets the opportunity to do that, surrounded by the familiar confines of the Union’s sprawling complex in Chester and in front of familiar faces of family and friends he had to say goodbye to while plying his trade overseas.

    Union defender Mark McKenzie plays against the New England Revolution in 2020.YONG KIM / Staff Photographer

    Family comes first

    Just before the start of the 2025 Gold Cup, McKenzie and his wife, Carley, welcomed their first child, Micah. For the new father, it meant several sleepless nights, getting acclimated to the rigors of parenting on top of preparing for a major tournament. In November, while McKenzie was back in Philly as a member of the U.S. national team, he noted that he was still balancing fatherhood and his thriving professional career.

    So how much did having family and friends minutes away instead of a world away factor into his decision to return, especially having a new, young family of his own?

    “It’s huge, man,” McKenzie said. “I think about the years that I’ve been in Europe, and you get the opportunity for family to come visit, be together and watch games. But now, the opportunity to walk off the field, to come back home and laugh and talk to a lot of the same people? That adds more to your career or who you are as a player than sometimes the wins and losses do.

    “At the end of the day, when I look back at my career, I’m just a product of who my family is and how strong my support system is. So, for me to come back here, not only make sure that they feel that love, but also my family at the Union … family is a core value, you know, and that’s what’s pushed me to get to where I am today. It’s a big part of the reason why I made the decision to come back here, and it’s going to be a big part of the reason why we’re successful as a club.”

    Mark McKenzie and fellow former Union player Paxten Aaronson bang the ceremonial drum ahead of a match in 2023. Philadelphia Union

    On Saturday, McKenzie was in Chester and watched the Union deliver a 4-2 win over Orlando City, setting a franchise record as they now revel in an unbeaten streak of 12 games. McKenzie opened the match with the ceremonial banging of the drum on the field. It not only started the game, but also the countdown of his return to the field in a few short months.

    When asked what that moment was going to feel like, McKenzie was a man of few words, but he had one that spoke volumes.

    “Surreal,” he said. “Yeah, I think that’s the best way to describe it.”

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Union soccer right here!
  • Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield earn their first USMNT starts in a 4-2 win over Chile

    Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield earn their first USMNT starts in a 4-2 win over Chile

    The U.S. men’s soccer team made it two wins in two games to start this season’s stretch of friendlies, beating Chile 4-2 on Tuesday in St. Louis.

    Union defenders Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield were in the U.S. starting lineup, earning their first national team starts after making their debuts as substitutes in Saturday’s win over Peru.

    Both played just over an hour, and while they weren’t perfect they showed their potential. Pierre had 74 touches, four clearances, one tackle, and four defensive recoveries, and completed 60 of 68 passes. Westfield had 46 touches, two interceptions, one tackle, and three recoveries, and completed 27 of 34 passes.

    As with the Peru game, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino mixed young and old players. But with 10 changes to the starting lineup, it wasn’t surprising that there was a lack of chemistry early.

    Sergiño Dest (left) watches Frankie Westfield battle for the ball with Chile’s Nils Reichmuth (right) during the first half.Jeff Roberson

    Chile looked better, forcing U.S. goalkeeper Chris Brady into four saves before Ben Brereton Díaz hit the crossbar in the 34th minute. Barely a minute later, Darío Osorio hit a post.

    Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield’s USMNT debuts vs. Peru weren’t forgotten amid Cavan Sullivan’s hype

    The U.S. scored first, though, in the 37th. After Gio Reyna and Sergiño Dest combined down the left, Dest uncorked some fancy footwork on a charge forward, then squared for Julian Hall. But the striker deftly let the ball run between his legs, and an onrushing Sebastian Berhalter slammed it home.

    Chile equalized in first-half stoppage time off a second straight corner kick that the U.S. failed to clear. Nearly a dozen players combined from the teams piled into each other in the six-yard box, and Diego Ulloa got the decisive touch.

    The teams agreed to use nine substitutes each. Pochettino made his first at halftime, removing Brady and sending in Brian Schwake of MLS-leading Nashville SC.

    That ensured each of the four goalkeepers on this U.S. roster would have a half of action under their belts heading into Saturday’s showdown with rival Mexico in Glendale, Ariz. (10 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62).

    For Cavan Sullivan, ‘the dream is reality’ in a successful USMNT debut

    Schwake got a rough welcome. Within four minutes, Maxi Gutiérrez beat a high-pressing Westfield on the flank, then raced away, cut in, and curled a superb 20-yarder around Pierre.

    The U.S. answered just over two minutes later. After a nice passing sequence, Reyna lofted a header from the left flank and Hall jumped to head it in.

    Pochettino made five changes at the hour mark, and all the entrants were veterans: Tyler Adams for Adri Mehmeti, Alex Freeman for Westfield, Chris Richards for Pierre, Auston Trusty for Miles Robinson, and Malik Tillman for Dest.

    Two more swaps came in the 71st: Damion Downs for Hall and Mathis Albert replaced Reyna.

    A look back at the USMNT’s win over Peru

    But for all the attacking moves, a centerback gave the U.S. the lead. Richards was unmarked when Berhalter’s corner arrived in the box, and had a wide-open lane for a thumping header.

    The last substitute was Cavan Sullivan for Berhalter in the 83rd, earning the Northeast Philadelphian native his second cap a day after celebrating his 17th birthday.

    Albert, another 17-year-old, finished off the scoring in the 93rd by getting on the end of a free kick play. Robinson served it, Trusty headed it from the end line into the middle of the box, and the Borussia Dortmund winger charged forward to slam it off the bar and in.

    Mathis Albert slams the door shut 🇺🇸✅

    @usmnt.ussoccer.com

    [image or embed]

    — Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) September 29, 2026 at 10:13 PM

    Chile took out its anger over the night after that when Leandro Hernández kicked at Schwake after he had picked up the ball. Richards took exception, and within seconds there was a full-scale melee including the benches — even the coaches. Pochettino ended up right in the middle of it.

  • The USWNT’s stars are coming to town for the showdown with Spain at Subaru Park

    The USWNT’s stars are coming to town for the showdown with Spain at Subaru Park

    As the men’s World Cup summer fades away, the time has come to kick off the countdown to next year’s women’s World Cup in Brazil.

    The U.S. women’s team’s series with Spain — a clash between the reigning Olympic champions and reigning World Cup champions — will serve as the starting gun. So it’s fitting that U.S. manager Emma Hayes has summoned a squad packed with stars for the two-game set, Oct. 10 in Washington and Oct. 13 at Subaru Park.

    All three of the “Triple Espresso” attackers are aboard — Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Wilson — as are midfield standouts Rose Lavelle, Lily Yohannes, and Sam Coffey.

    The defense also has its headliner in Naomi Girma, who makes the squad despite injuries hampering the start to her season at English club Chelsea. But Hayes admitted Tuesday that the centerback’s latest knock, suffered in practice just a few hours before the announcement, could rule her out.

    “I’m not entirely sure if Naomi will be on the roster, but I’m sure we will will report something if that is the case,” Hayes said in a news conference.

    Naomi Girma (right) hasn’t played for her club, England’s Chelsea, since Sept. 2.Gari Garaialde

    While those players will sell the most tickets, the one who might generate the most fan buzz is forward Ashley Sanchez. She has been steamrolling the NWSL this year with the North Carolina Courage and has 20 goals and four assists in 26 games.

    But she hasn’t been with the national team since January 2025 and hasn’t played for her country since October 2024.

    The 27-year-old has tied the league’s single-season scoring record with four games to go. She could break it Friday night by scoring on the goalkeeper who might be the U.S.’s new starter, the Seattle Reign’s Claudia Dickey.

    “I think Ashley’s had an extraordinary season, not just in terms of the number of goals she’s scored, but I think consistency in her performance,” Hayes said. “At her stage of her career, I’m sure she doesn’t want to waste the opportunities that are in front of her. The experience she has — this is a player that was always tipped for great things as a youth national team player, and so I’m happy to see her fulfilling her potential.”

    Hayes doesn’t have everyone available she’d like to have. Three major players are dealing with long-term injuries: veteran centerback Emily Sonnett, young creative midfielder Olivia Moultrie, and do-it-all attacking star Catarina Macario.

    While Hayes hopes they’ll be back next year, the door has opened for some young prospects. Winger Pietra Tordin has turned heads with seven goals and nine assists for the Portland Thorns, while striker Trinity Byars has 10 goals and two assists for the San Diego Wave.

    What to know about the USWNT’s recent history with Spain

    As for available players who didn’t make the cut for this squad, the biggest absence is Gotham FC playmaker Jaedyn Shaw. It’s easy to forget she’s only 21, as she has 37 senior national team caps. Shaw has been in superb form in the NWSL lately: four goals and one assist in her last five games, with nine goals and five assists on the season.

    Angel City striker Ally Sentnor is another notable absence. She has seven goals and four assists for the club this year, and seven goals in 23 career U.S. games.

    “I want to prioritize the development of players, and I don’t want less experienced players always sitting on the bench and playing few minutes,” Hayes said, adding that the duo are “still central to our plans.”

    Hayes said she spoke with both of them and “they understand the importance of their development” and “this has been part of their prescribed journey.”

    Brazil’s iconic Maracanã Stadium will host the 2027 women’s World Cup final

    Both games are close to sold out, with only scattered seats open on Ticketmaster. As of Tuesday afternoon, the starting price for the Tuesday game in Chester is $76 and leaps to $168 for the Saturday matchup at Washington’s Audi Field.

    The big crowds will come to cheer on the U.S., but they’ll also be keen to see Spain’s stars. La Roja’s squad includes two-time world player of the year Alexia Putellas, a further all-world playmaker in Mariona Caldentey, and one of the planet’s top young players in Salma Paralluelo,

    U.S. midfielder Lily Yohannes (left) faced Spain’s Mariona Caldentey last spring when Yohannes’ OL Lyonnes met Arsenal in the women’s Chamipions League semifinals.Laurent Cipriani

    It notably does not include former Gotham FC striker Esther González, who likely would have gotten a frosty reception over here. She left Gotham in late July via a mutual contract termination for what she said were personal reasons but within a month joined Saudi Arabian club Al Qadisah.

    That drew backlash on this side of the Atlantic, and not just from Gotham fans who felt scorned. Several eyebrows were raised around the league, and even some observers in Europe were surprised.

    Three-time reigning world player of the year Aitana Bonmatí also isn’t on this squad, as she’s recovering from a broken leg suffered last season.

    The USWNT wins fans with its stars, but keeps winning games with its depth

    But the rest of the squad is more than than deep enough to give the U.S. one of the biggest tests it can get from any team in the world.

    “I’ve said it many times: We want the hard path,” Hayes said. “We want these games, this preparation. We welcome it; we invite it. It brings the best out of us.”

    Emma Hayes giving instructions at a U.S. practice when the team was in Chester for a game last October.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    USWNT roster vs. Spain

    Goalkeepers (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, England)

    Defenders (8): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal, England), Naomi Girma (Chelsea, England), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Boston Legacy), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave)

    Midfielders (7): Sam Coffey (Manchester City, England), Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit), Claire Hutton (Bay FC), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Evelyn Shores (Angel City FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, France)

    Forwards (8): Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage), Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns)

    USWNT schedule

    Saturday, Oct. 10: vs. Spain at Audi Field, Washington, 2:30 p.m. (TBS, Telemundo 62, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)

    Tuesday, Oct. 13: vs. Spain at Subaru Park, Chester, 7 p.m. (TNT, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)

  • Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield’s USMNT debuts vs. Peru weren’t forgotten amid Cavan Sullivan’s hype

    Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield’s USMNT debuts vs. Peru weren’t forgotten amid Cavan Sullivan’s hype

    ORLANDO — Everyone knew who the man of the hour was Saturday night, especially the two guys who know him best.

    And if it wasn’t enough that Frankie Westfield and Neil Pierre are Cavan Sullivan’s Union teammates, they walked right by him in the postgame interview area as a pack of reporters stood by the 16-year-old.

    Of course Sullivan was the big story, having started and played well in his senior U.S. men’s soccer team debut. (And for the record, he might not be a 16-year-old anymore by the time you read this. His 17th birthday is Monday.)

    He wasn’t the only story, though. Westfield and Pierre also made their debuts, part of a total of 11 players who earned their first caps in the 4-1 win over Peru. Both entered as late-game substitutes.

    Neil Pierre (center) and Frankie Westfield (right) got to celebrate on the field with Cavan Sullivan after the game.Alex Menendez

    They all deserve a share of the spotlight, and U.S. Soccer made sure they got them. Each received a commemorative game ball in the locker room.

    “This is a moment we’ve both been working for, for our whole lives,” said Westfield, a 20-year-old right back from Morrell Park in Northeast Philadelphia. “Truly an honor and a blessing to go out there and support the team, and help the team in any way possible. And I’m very thankful that we got the win today — just made it even better.”

    Cavan Sullivan makes USMNT debut in 4-1 win over Peru

    Pierre, an 18-year-old centerback from Blue Bell and originally Harrisburg, was equally thrilled.

    “You dream of this as a kid,” he said. “Coming out to the field and then also finishing the game off and winning it, obviously it was a great feeling, and a great moment for us and the team.”

    Frankie Westfield at work during a U.S. practice last week.Jonathan Tannenwald

    Pierre said he had some family in the stands. Westfield didn’t have any, but they are expected at later games in this window.

    The duo didn’t get to play with Sullivan in the game, since he exited just after the hour mark and they entered later: Westfield in the 77th minute and Pierre in the 88th. But they enjoyed what they saw from the bench.

    For Cavan Sullivan, ‘the dream is reality’ in a successful USMNT debut

    “I was happy for him to be able to start and make a great performance, and [he was] just living it up in the moment and enjoying it,” Pierre said.

    While the players spoke, the Union were in the midst of their 4-2 win over Orlando City back at Subaru Park — up 2-0 right then, late in the first half. MLS played a round of league games during the FIFA window because of the summer World Cup break, going back to an old bad habit. This could be the last time, with the big calendar flip coming next year.

    “We were checking” in the locker room, Westfield said. “Five starters [missing], the whole right side being gone, that says a lot about the fight in the team, and the hunger. … Hopefully they can hold [the lead], and I know they will hold it.”

    As the U.S. team headed off into the night, bound for a flight back to the national training center, his hunch was proven true.

    Neil Pierre could be on the cusp of his next star turn at his first USMNT camp
  • For Cavan Sullivan, ‘the dream is reality’ in a successful USMNT debut

    For Cavan Sullivan, ‘the dream is reality’ in a successful USMNT debut

    ORLANDO — There were hints in the last few days that Mauricio Pochettino might choose to make Cavan Sullivan’s national team debut be a start against Peru, and they proved correct.

    When the word went out Saturday afternoon, there was plenty of excitement in the stadium and on social media. But when Sullivan was subbed out after just over an hour, he hadn’t made a highlight-reel play.

    Instead, he gave a performance that, had it been done by a veteran, would have been called perfectly solid.

    This should be seen as great news.

    Cavan Sullivan (left) celebrating with Justin Ellis (center) and the rest of the team after Ellis opened the scoring in just the fourth minute.Phelan M. Ebenhack

    Sure, there weren’t any of the flashy moments that Sullivan has delivered for the Union in recent weeks. In fact, on a few occasions in the first half, he chose to make quieter plays when he could have gone big.

    But for a 16-year-old to make those choices in his first senior national team game, with the nerves that surely were there on top of all the pressure he already faces?

    Cavan Sullivan makes USMNT debut in 4-1 win over Peru

    That made Sullivan worthy of the praise Pochettino lavished on him afterward.

    “I am so happy with his performance,” he said. “I feel really proud. Sixteen years old, and performing, and fighting, and playing with personality, with character.”

    Leading up to the game, Pochettino seemed intent on not singling out Sullivan or any of the other new young players on this U.S. roster until they had played a game. Now they had, with 11 of the 12 newcomers getting on the field, so Pochettino could let it out.

    “Of course, he’s a kid that absorbs a lot of pressure from the environment,” he said. “But I think now he’s with people, like he’s with people in his club, [so] that we are going to do everything to protect, and to help, and to support him to keep him evolving. And there’s no doubt that he’s very smart. He’s so great, and he only needs time — like Mathis Albert, like Zavier Gozo.”

    Mauricio Pochettino says Cavan Sullivan is ‘ready’ for his USMNT run alongside the team’s new generation

    From there, Pochettino reeled off the names of almost every other newcomer on the squad, drawing laughter from the room. But he knows Sullivan is different because he’s younger than the rest; in fact now the second-youngest starter in team history.

    That’s why the manager spoke of “feeling a sense of responsibility, trying to guide him with discipline and professionalism, showing him the way, because at 16 he’s still a kid who needs to mature. There are many things — just like us, too, with 50 years — to keep learning, because it’s a constant learning process.”

    It’s 54 in Pochettino’s case, to be precise. But he could apply the night’s biggest point to players of every age, from his era to Sullivan’s now.

    “The language of football is, good players connect quick,” he said. “They don’t need too much time together.”

    A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S. Soccer

    Sullivan showed his fluency right out of the gate.

    ‘It’s pretty surreal’

    After the game, there were a few admissions that he is, in fact, new at this.

    One was that he couldn’t figure out how to get his parents down the stands after the final whistle so he could greet them.

    “I know now for next time that I can find a way to bring them down here,” Sullivan quipped.

    For all the hype, Cavan Sullivan has genuinely earned his moment on the USMNT’s biggest stage

    Another was his admission that yes, he was as nervous before kickoff as anyone would expect.

    “Of course there was nerves,” he said. “I was super excited. A little bit of both. Pregame was definitely nerve-wracking.”

    Cavan Sullivan (right) talking with Mauricio Pochettino at the start of training camp.Taylor Banner

    Beyond that, the national media got to see that Auston Trusty was right when he recently told The Inquirer about Sullivan’s humility. Spend time with Sullivan in person and you see the human beyond the Instagram highlights.

    “It’s crazy that I represented my country at the highest level with the men’s national team,” he said. “I’m really happy just to have done this. … The dream is a reality. It’s pretty surreal.”

    Union alum Auston Trusty embraces being a USMNT role model for Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre

    He saw the chemistry, too.

    “I just think, yeah, when you’re surrounded by players with such high quality, it makes it so much easier,” Sullivan said. “Like I said, I’m still learning. Chemistry’s a real thing, so, yeah, we’re taking it day-by-day, game-by-game.”

    He kept his goals for the rest of this camp simple: “Learn more and more from the coaches, and from the other guys, and hopefully get my first goal.”

    The games will get harder, especially facing regional rivals Mexico and Canada. But those goals seem achievable, perhaps even the last of them.

    Neil Pierre could be on the cusp of his next star turn as he heads to his first USMNT camp

    ‘It shows maturity’

    Other players saw it too, starting with the one who lined up behind him on the right flank.

    “Knowing that he’s only 16, it shows maturity,” said right back Alex Freeman, who this year vaulted from Orlando City to Spain’s Villarreal to World Cup stardom before turning 22 in August. “Showing that he knows when to choose his moments, when to be flashy, when to take his chances and when to keep the ball. … He picked his moments to go one-v-one, he also cut in [at] moments to be able to combine.”

    He called Sullivan “a complete winger,” and said “as a first impression, it was amazing to see.”

    Gio Reyna also now counts as a veteran at age 23, having been to two World Cups. He started in the central attacking spot, with Sullivan out wide.

    Before Auston Trusty scored a World Cup goal, he ‘put the work in’ at Penncrest High and Nether United

    “My message to him today was pretty simple: just play, play with your instinct, be yourself, do what he’s been doing the last eight to 12 weeks in MLS that brought him here,” Reyna said. “Obviously, he’s got a load of talent. Looking forward to continuing to see him develop — he’s only 16, which is crazy. But yeah, he’s been great.”

    Reyna admitted to being “surprised” to see in person that Sullivan is “a really, really hard worker … I didn’t think he was not going to work hard, but the work he’s shown has been great.”

    Cavan Sullivan (center) listening to a coach during a practice a few days ago.Jonathan Tannenwald

    It was not lost on anyone standing there that in normal-life terms, Reyna is still not far removed from the 2022 World Cup scandal that centered specifically on his work ethic. But maybe that made the words count a little more.

    Not for nothing, Pochettino continued his praise of the veterans for how they’ve welcomed the newcomers into the program. He knew he’d get a lot of questions about players like Sullivan, goal-scorers Julian Hall and Justin Ellis, and others. But he insisted that the spotlight be shared.

    This summer created World Cup fans, but that’s not the same as soccer fans. MLS must bridge the gap.

    “The headline is, the senior players deserve massive credit in the way that they treat, in the way that they guide, in the way that they support, in the way that they welcome, in the way that they create an environment very comfortable for them to feel like home,” Pochettino said. “I think it’s a massive value for us to have the senior players helping in this way.”

    This was just one night, and the 2030 World Cup is a long way away. For a first impression, though, this sure was a memorable one.

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Union soccer right here!
  • Union’s wild unbeaten streak continues with a dominant win over Orlando City

    Union’s wild unbeaten streak continues with a dominant win over Orlando City

    If there was any concern about how the Union would fare with five of their customary starters away on international duty — the answer was emphatic.

    Four goals, the first coming in the 11th minute, fueled a 4-2 win over Orlando City on Saturday inside a wet Subaru Park, as a hat trick from forward Milan Iloski paved the way for the Union to set a franchise record with 12 games unbeaten in MLS play.

    The outburst came despite defenders Frankie Westfield and Neil Pierre and midfielder Cavan Sullivan made their U.S. senior national team debuts in a 4-1 win against Peru just a few hours earlier. Also missing were midfielder Danley Jean Jacques (Haiti) and longtime goalkeeper Andre Blake, who is on duty with Jamaica.

    On Saturday along Chester’s waterfront, Iloski struck first on a penalty kick after being taken down in the box by Orlando right back Zakaria Taifi. Following a delay and a request from referee Sergil Demianchuk to move the ball onto the spot, Iloski blasted home his 14th goal of the season. He scored his second just eight minutes later, taking a ball into space and slotting it past Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.

    He sealed the match in the 51st with a blast just outside Orlando’s 18 that Crépeau had no chance of saving. Iloski leads the team with 16 goals and is tied for third in the league. Indiana Vassilev also scored in the 48th to set the tone early in the second half. He took a pass from Jesús Bueno in the box and blasted it past the hands of Crépeau.

    Orlando notched two second-half goals. Iván Angulo scored in the 78th, and the second came off a well-timed run and shot from Martín Ojeda in the box, courtesy of a smart cross from substitute Harvey Sarajian. Despite the goals, backup goalkeeper Andrew Rick was strong in net and arguably didn’t have to do much, courtesy of an Orlando attack that lacked much bite.

    A hallmark of the Union’s remarkable run since the return from the FIFA World Cup break has been their ability to create — and finish — many their chances.

    The Union have amassed 35 goals on this run and have scored at least four goals in each of their last four matches, including 5-0 wins over FC Cincinnati (Sept. 9) and San Diego FC (Sept. 13).

    Now, a break in league action awaits courtesy of a FIFA international window that extends through Oct. 10, when the club returns to Subaru Park to host Real Salt Lake (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).