Sullivan breaks 21-year MLS record with LeBron tribute

Cavan Sullivan is only 16, but the Philadelphia Union teenager is already making MLS history.

Sullivan scored for the third consecutive game on Sunday as Philadelphia beat CF Montreal 2-0 at Subaru Park, becoming the youngest player in MLS history, and the first teenager, to record a goal contribution in five straight matches. His fourth goal of the season also took his tally to 11 goal contributions, four goals and seven assists, moving him past Freddy Adu's mark from 2005 for the most by a 16-year-old in MLS.

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The landmark came as the Union continued their remarkable turnaround. Philadelphia extended their unbeaten run to eight matches and, for the first time this season, climbed into an Audi MLS Cup Playoff position.

Danley Jean Jacques opened the scoring in the 57th minute before Sullivan sealed the points 18 minutes later.

The teenager's goal came after Milan Iloski's effort was stopped by Montreal goalkeeper Sébastien Breza, with Sullivan following up inside the box to put the game beyond the visitors.

“I was in the box and that's where things happen,” Sullivan said.

Then came the celebration.

Sullivan paid tribute to Philadelphia's newest sporting superstar by breaking out LeBron James' trademark 'Chalk Toss' celebration, a nod to the NBA legend and new Philadelphia 76ers arrival.

It was a moment Sullivan had been saving for some time.

“I was waiting to do that for a while,” he said, revealing that Union photographer Kim had been holding the chalk for multiple games as he waited for the right opportunity.

Sunday's packed Subaru Park finally provided it.

Sullivan even had an invitation for James.

“We gotta get him to strike the drum,” he said. “Follow me back on Instagram.”

The teenager's idea was partly inspired by James' own interest in football. Sullivan recalled seeing the NBA star support USMNT forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup.

“He's rumoured he is a soccer fan,” Sullivan said.

James would certainly find plenty to enjoy at Subaru Park, where Sullivan believes the atmosphere is unlike anything else in Philadelphia.

“LeBron, this place is dope,” Sullivan said. “No arena is like Subaru Park.”

For now, though, Sullivan is helping create the atmosphere himself.

His goal capped another important night for a Union side that has transformed its season after a miserable start. Eight games unbeaten has taken Philadelphia into the playoff picture, with the teenager increasingly at the heart of their resurgence.

“Coming off that terrible first part of the year, where we felt like we couldn't get any points, and now it's eight unbeaten,” Sullivan said.

“It wasn't a pretty game, but winning ugly is huge.”

At 16, Sullivan has already moved beyond one of MLS's most famous teenage benchmarks. On Saturday, he marked the occasion by borrowing a celebration from Philadelphia's newest sporting king.