Philadelphia Union II notched three important points at Subaru Park on Sunday, with the club's brightest young talent making his biggest mark yet.
Standout Union II midfielder Cavan Sullivan celebrated the day after his 15th birthday by kickstarting the comeback in a 2-1 win over Atlanta United 2. In stoppage time, fellow Union academy standout CJ Olney Jr. scored the go-ahead goal. The win keeps the possibility alive for Union II to finish first place in the Eastern Conference.
ATL UTD 2 grabbed the lead in the 43rd minute through a penalty kick by Nick Firmino. Union II grabbed plenty of momentum in the second half, with Sullivan making it count in the 77th minute with a smart run into the box, where he met an errant ball that he knocked into the back of the net.
Olney found the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time, scoring on the half volley from about 15 yards out.
Sullivan, named Man of the Match on Sunday, scored his fourth goal of the MLS NEXT Pro season. He has also added four assists in 2024, playing 1,069 minutes.
The Philly native made his Major League Soccer debut with the Philadelphia Union on July 17, becoming the youngest player in league history at 14 years, 293 days old.
Union II are locked into a tight battle atop the Eastern Conference table. They moved into the top spot in the conference with the win, but FC Cincinnati 2 hold a game in hand and looks to take the struggle for Eastern Conference supremacy into the final week of the regular season.
Sullivan and Union II, which have already clinched their spot in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, head into the final week of the season to face Chicago Fire FC II on Oct. 6 (1 PM ET | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) in the final MLS NEXT Pro regular season match.
