Sullivan sets record in big USA win over Mexico

Albert scored in last week's 4-2 win over Chile at the age of 17 years and 131 days, but Philadelphia Union sensation Sullivan netted at 17 years and five days old on Sunday (AEDT).

He was not the only young player to impress for Mauricio Pochettino's hosts in Glendale, either, with 18-year-old forward Julian Hall netting their 28th-minute opener.

After Santiago Gimenez passed up a huge early chance for Mexico, Hall was on hand to finish after some suspect goalkeeping from Raul Rangel, who found Malik Tillman's right-wing cross too hot to handle, after a lovely, disguised pass from Sebastian Berhalter.

Gimenez somehow steered wide with the goal gaping at the end of the first half, while his team-mate Roberto Alvarado was only denied by a reflex Diego Kochen stop early in the second, having thumped a volley towards goal on the swivel.

But the USA doubled its lead just beyond the hour mark, with a more glaring mistake from Rangel gifting Sullivan his first international goal. Under little pressure, he passed straight to the teenage midfielder, who immediately lobbed the goalkeeper from 35 yards out.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Mateo Chavez was sent off for slapping Berhalter across the face, amid a melee prompted by his own late challenge on Yunus Musah.

There was more self-inflicted pain for Mexico in the 84th minute as Tillman intercepted Alvaro Fidalgo's pass and lashed into the top-left corner.

The USA have one more game to play this month, against Canada in Minnesota on Wednesday (AEDT), and Pochettino is determined to give his young players further chances to impress.

"It's amazing to have these talented players that appear now, and it's important for us – it is a big, big moment," Pochettino said.

"It's a big moment because we need to get it right with them. We need to protect them. We need to support them.

"Our responsibility now is that this group of talented players grow in the right direction. Today, they were so exciting.

"We need to continue with that idea, to keep that feeling – every time that they can be part of this national team, it's the most important thing."

Asked about Sullivan specifically, Pochettino said of the Philadelphia Union's breakout star: "He's a talented player with enormous quality, but with a very good balance, in possession and out of possession.

"He's a fighter. He's a warrior. It's difficult to find this type of player, no?"

Sullivan himself said it was a dream come true to set the new record.

"These are moments you dream of since you're three, four, five or six years old. I manifested this moment" he said.

"I probably shouldn't have pressed the goalie; it felt like there was not really anybody pressing behind me. But that's why you go and that's why you put the work in, and I was rewarded for doing so.

"From there, it was sort of a blackout. I just remember chipping the ball, hoping it didn't hit the crossbar or go over. I was getting nervous when it was in the air."