Justin Ellis and Julian Hall scored in their debuts when a young United States men’s national team defeated Peru 4-1 to start a new cycle after this summer’s World Cup.
Ellis, 19, scored four minutes into the match Saturday in Orlando, where he plays for Orlando City of Major League Soccer.
After Peru tied it in the 15th, Malik Tillman converted a penalty in the 66th minute to put the U.S. ahead thanks to Mathis Albert drawing a foul moments after making his international debut.
Hall, 18, was on the field 11 minutes when he scored from a set-up by Sebastian Berhalter in the 72nd minute to make it 3-1 and Berhalter ripped a shot from 25 yards in the 90th minute.
The next generation was on full display when the U.S. played for the first time since a World Cup round of 16 loss to Belgium on July 6.
It was a vastly different squad in Orlando with many veterans such as Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie not called up to make room for a host of newcomers, including forward Cavan Sullivan and defender Peyton Miller starting in their USMNT debuts.
They were among 11 debutantes, eight of them teenagers.
Sullivan at 16 years, 363 days old is the second-youngest player to start for the USMNT after Mike Slivinski in 1991. He was also the youngest to appear in a match since Freddy Adu in 2006.
Goalkeeper Diego Kochen, 20, made his debut to start the second half in replacing Matt Freese and defenders Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield, midfielders Zavier Gozo and Adri Mehmeti and forward Brooklyn Raines all made their first appearances in the second half.
The starting lineup averaged 22 appearances with an average age of 23 years, six months.
It was like men vs. boys. Peru, which did not qualify for the World Cup, started eight players over 30 and none were less than 25.
Yet, it was Ellis who stole the show early when he drew a free kick to the left of the penalty area. Gio Reyna sent an in-swinger to the head of Ellis where he redirected the service to the far post.
Peru also scored with a header when Gianluca Lapadula nodded a cross by Yoshimar Yotun 11 minutes later for the equalizer.
–Field Level Media
