Hall, Gozo and Sullivan Had Strong Showings in the MLS on Wednesday
Wednesday night was a memorable one for young American talent in Major League Soccer, with three teenagers making headlines in contrasting circumstances.
The most remarkable performance came from Julian Hall, who etched his name into MLS history books at just 18 years and 50 days old. The Red Bull New York forward became the youngest player ever to score a hat-trick in the league, netting twice before halftime and once after in a 3-2 win over Columbus Crew. The feat surpassed a record previously held by Ricardo Pepi, who was nearly five months older when he accomplished the same feat against the LA Galaxy back in 2021. Hall, who has now bagged nine league goals in 13 appearances this season, admitted he was moved to tears upon learning of the historic achievement. "It just makes me think about all the times I was working so hard to make memories like this," he said. Manager Michael Bradley was effusive in his praise, describing Hall as someone who arrives each day ready to work and listen.
In Utah, 19-year-old Zavier Gozo turned in the kind of performance that careers are built on. The Real Salt Lake midfielder scored twice in a dominant 3-0 victory over Houston Dynamo, becoming the youngest player in the club's 22-year history to score multiple goals in a regular-season game. His first arrived after a clever pass slipped through for him to slot home coolly, and his second saw him pounce on a perfectly weighted through ball to fire into the bottom corner. The brace lifted him to the top of RSL's scoring charts with five goals.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan provided a rare bright spot in a difficult season for the Union. Coming off the bench before halftime, Sullivan scored his first-ever MLS goal in the 75th minute, which was a composed one-touch finish, though it ultimately could not prevent a 4-3 defeat to Orlando City.
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