Julian Hall and Zavier Gozo are certainly punching above their weight in the 2026 MLS season.
Both U.S. youth national team players continued their stellar league campaigns on Wednesday in key victories for their respective sides. Hall became the youngest player to record an MLS hat trick in the New York Red Bulls’ 3-2 home win over the Columbus Crew.
Hall opened the scoring for Michael Bradley’s men in the seventh minute, finishing off Cade Cowell’s first assist of the night for a 1-0 lead.
Despite USMNT full back Max Arfsten tying the match for the Crew, Hall regained the hosts’ advantage five minutes before halftime.
Diego Rossi’s second-half penalty kick equalizer drew the Crew level yet again, but Hall had the final say with 11 minutes to play. The 17-year-old cleaned up a rebound in the box for his 12th goal of the season in all competitions, giving the Red Bulls a fifth league win of the year.
As for Hall, his international allegiance remains undetermined with the skillful forward eligible for both the United States and Poland.
Zavier Gozo scores twice in Real Salt Lake win
Zavier Gozo is also making a late case to be part of Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup roster.
Gozo scored twice in a seven-minute span to pad Real Salt Lake’s 3-0 triumph over the Houston Dynamo. The 19-year-old now has five goals in league play this season, continuing a strong surge into consistent first team play.
After a Duane Holmes own goal propelled RSL ahead 1-0, Gozo dialed his own number two minutes after halftime for a 2-0 advantage. Gozo’s toe-poke finish gave the hosts some breathing room before the in-from attacker added his second goal of the night before the hour mark.
Gozo now has five goals and four assists for RSL, helping the club jump to fourth place in the Western Conference.
Cavan Sullivan scores first MLS goal despite Union loss
Cavan Sullivan also bagged his first-career MLS goal in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-3 road loss to Orlando City.
Sullivan, 16, tucked home Ben Bender’s cross into the bottom corner, trimming the Union’s deficit to 3-2 at the time.
Bender would equalize for Bradley Carnell’s men only four minutes later but Orlando City would steal all three points through Martin Ojeda’s late winner.
Sullivan now has three goals and four assists for the Union in all competitions this season.