Cavan Sullivan records two assists as Philadelphia Union extend club-record unbeaten run to 13 with 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Philadelphia Union continued a remarkable surge in MLS play on Saturday, getting a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake at Subaru Park powered by two assists from 17-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan. The result extended the Union’s club-record unbeaten streak to 13 matches, a run that has come after the team returned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup break.

Sullivan’s impact was central to both goals in Philadelphia’s victory as he recorded two assists against Real Salt Lake. With those contributions, MLSsoccer.com reported that Sullivan became the all-time leader in goal contributions by a teenager in league history, finishing with 21 goal contributions. The teenager mark surpasses Vancouver Whitecaps FC alumn Alphonso Davies, who recorded 19 goal contributions in 2018, and New England Revolution homegrown Diego Fagúndez, who tallied 20 goal contributions in 2013.

The Union’s momentum has taken shape across recent weeks without needing a perfect personal performance from their young playmaker. Interim manager Ryan Richter, speaking in the immediate aftermath of the match, described Sullivan’s overall output in measured terms even while emphasizing his influence on the decisive moments. Richter said, “I did not think it was his best game. He was solid, I would say. Even in a game where he wasn’t electric in the way he has been in most games, he still has a hand in the first goal for the assist, and then he kind of makes the play that leads to the action for the second goal. Even when everything is not coming off perfectly… he still finds a way to create both goals that we had tonight.”

In the broader context of the Union’s season, the weekend result continued a turnaround that has carried Philadelphia from early difficulty to a strong position in the Eastern Conference. MLSsoccer.com reported the Union are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference with six games remaining, and it noted that the club’s 13-match unbeaten streak began after their return from the 2026 FIFA World Cup break. The same source said the Union had been at the bottom of the league standings during the first half of the season.

Beyond MLS, Sullivan’s Saturday performance also arrived on the heels of major developments with the United States men’s national team. MLSsoccer.com reported that the midfielder was “fresh off” a historic USMNT debut and that the international run included his first call-up, his first start against Peru, and his first international goal against Concacaf rivals Mexico during the recent international break. Those milestones have added another layer of attention to his club form as the Union push toward the end of the regular season.

Sullivan’s statistical standing within MLS has continued to trend upward alongside the team’s results. According to MLSsoccer.com, he sits atop the MLS assists leaderboard with 14 assists, matching that total with Seattle Sounders FC Designated Player Albert Rusnák. In addition to the teenager goal-contribution record, that league-leading place underlines how regularly Sullivan has been involved in the playmaking that translates into goals.

The Union’s ability to keep collecting points has also been reflected in their consistency over the 13-match unbeaten stretch. MLSsoccer.com framed the streak as a club record that has helped cement Philadelphia’s resurgence following the World Cup interruption. For supporters, the match against Real Salt Lake served as another example of that steadiness, with Sullivan contributing directly through two assists while the team continued to avoid defeat.

The upcoming schedule will provide another test of Philadelphia’s momentum as it seeks to extend the current run. MLSsoccer.com reported that Sullivan and the Union will travel to face Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on Wednesday night, with kickoff listed for 8:30 p.m. ET and the match available via Apple TV. With the regular season reaching its final stretch, the next fixture could be another step in determining how far the Union can carry their improved form as they chase a higher place in the Eastern Conference.

For Real Salt Lake, the loss was a setback in a season where results against teams riding hot streaks can have meaningful consequences. For Philadelphia, Saturday’s win served both as a continuation of a club-best unbeaten run and as a personal milestone for Sullivan, who has now written his name into MLS’s all-time teenage goal-contribution record book while also remaining a key creator in the Union’s attacking buildup.