Cavan Sullivan Chip Leads USMNT to 3-0 Win Over Mexico

When the United States last faced Mexico at this venue, Jimmy Conrad and Landon Donovan scored in one of the Americans’ many 2-0 victories. Eight members of Saturday’s US squad had not even been born at the time of that match.

This youthful American side surpassed that earlier result, quieting a large pro-Mexico crowd with an assured 3-0 victory that showcased an exciting emerging generation. Only days after his 17th birthday, Cavan Sullivan became the youngest scorer in the team’s history with a remarkable chip from distance. Julian Hall, 18, found the net for the third consecutive appearance, while Malik Tillman completed the rout in the 85th minute against a Mexico side reduced to ten players after beginning the contest strongly.

The US had not played away from home since 2024, but the atmosphere made this encounter feel much like an away fixture. Tailgate parties featured considerably more fajitas than hot dogs, while State Farm Stadium’s red seats were covered by a wave of green shirts as the national anthems played before Tyler Adams’ first match as Mauricio Pochettino’s captain.

The difference in crowd support reflected the opening stages on the field. Mexico started aggressively, while the designated hosts struggled to move the ball quickly. Although the US deployed a defensive line that could reasonably be viewed as its preferred group for the beginning of this cycle, all four defenders found it difficult to bypass Mexico’s intense man-marking pressure.

After enduring five minutes of sustained Mexican pressure, the Americans changed their approach. Trusting Kochen’s comfort with the ball, they began using short restarts, with Auston Trusty tapping goal kicks back to the young goalkeeper. This cautious tactic reduced Mexico’s attacking momentum but did little to ignite the US offense. After 15 minutes, Mexico had recorded 38 touches in the opposition half compared with only five for the Americans.

By the 28th minute, the hosts had begun limiting Mexico’s possession, and the crowd inside State Farm Stadium had settled into near silence.

Then the United States broke through.

Sebastian Berhalter lifted a pass toward Alex Freeman on the right wing. Freeman attracted several defenders while moving toward the corner, shaped as though he would turn back, and then slipped a precise pass between two opponents. Gio Reyna received it in stride inside the penalty area and attempted to send the ball across goal. Raúl Rangel mishandled the low delivery and pushed it directly toward Hall, who confidently struck a first-time finish across the goalkeeper and into the far side of the net.

The 18-year-old faced the stands and placed his hands behind his ears in front of the American Outlaws, playfully responding to the suddenly subdued Mexican support. Hall’s opportunistic finish gave him three goals in his first three US appearances and strengthened his argument for a regular role during the cycle.

Mexico attempted to reclaim control and repeatedly fouled Malik Tillman whenever he carried the ball forward. Without the creative midfield influence of Gilberto Mora and Hirving Lozano, the team failed to transform its possession into meaningful opportunities. After 40 minutes, Mexico had taken only four shots, none of them on target. With five minutes remaining before the interval, many supporters in green began heading toward concession stands and restrooms.

Those who left early missed Mexico’s clearest opportunity of the first half, created by a sequence that mirrored the opening goal. Luís Romo directed an ambitious effort toward the far post, forcing Kochen into an awkward diving stop. His parry dropped to Santiago Giménez inside the six-yard area, presenting the Porto loanee with an excellent chance to equalize. Giménez instead sliced his shot well wide, allowing the US to preserve its lead at half-time.

The hosts returned with greater confidence, directing passes toward Sullivan on the right and sending balls through the channel for Tillman and Reyna. Mexico finally registered an effort on target in the 58th minute when Roberto Alvarado struck a half-volley after a corner had been redirected into his path. Kochen calmly pushed the shot over the crossbar, maintaining his team’s advantage with about 30 minutes left.

As the second half continued, the tempo dropped and both sides became less precise in possession. Shortly after the hour, Rangel received a backpass from Érik Lira and delayed while searching for a teammate, despite standing well away from his goal. His weak pass toward Diego Campillo was intercepted by Sullivan, who had been leading the improvised American press and displayed some of the sharpest instincts in the squad.

Sullivan’s exceptional awareness allowed him to capitalize immediately. Rather than slowing down to secure possession, he controlled the ball with his left foot, kept it close, and then used the same foot to lift a curling shot over Rangel and beneath the crossbar. The teenager celebrated wildly, crashing into the corner flag before teammates surrounded him and he tapped the US badge over his heart.

Sullivan’s first international goal seemed destined to become a defining highlight for both player and team, marking the culmination of years of anticipation surrounding the country’s latest young prospect. The brilliance of the individual finish made it memorable on its own and introduced his talent emphatically against the nation’s greatest regional rival.

Mexico then began to unravel and could not recover its earlier composure. In the 67th minute, substitutes Yunus Musah and Mateo Chavez came together as Musah attempted to dribble forward and Chavez kicked through his legs. Players from both teams gathered in a heated confrontation before referee Selvin Brown showed the AZ Alkmaar defender a red card, prompting an angry response from the crowd.

Mexico’s supporters have long directed a homophobic chant at opposing goalkeepers during goal kicks. Following costly errors in both goals, some fans instead aimed the discriminatory shout at Rangel during his restarts. Stadium officials did not carry out their pre-match warning that play would be stopped if the chant occurred. The crowd also booed every Rangel touch, treating their own goalkeeper as though he represented the visiting team.

Rangel appeared unsettled by the unexpected hostility. Another inaccurate backpass, this one from Álvaro Fidalgo, rolled into the penalty area while the goalkeeper remained close to his line, seemingly expecting a central defender to collect it. Malik Tillman reached the loose ball first and guided his finish into the top corner, turning what had initially appeared to be a promising occasion for Mexico into a humiliating defeat.

Before the match, Adams noted that the winner of this rivalry is often regarded as the region’s leading team. On this occasion, the United States accepted every opportunity presented to them and used those mistakes to reinforce their claim to that position.