Sullivan's Record Night, Janssen's Hat-Trick, and an Eight-Goal Thriller: MLS Delivers

A 16-year-old from Philadelphia channelled LeBron James, a newcomer from Belgium scored three on his first start, and Toronto and Chicago played out the kind of 4-4 draw that leaves everyone breathless. MLS packed a season's worth of storylines into one Saturday night.

Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player in MLS history to record a goal contribution streak across five consecutive matches on 5 September 2026, scoring in the 75th minute of Philadelphia Union's 2-0 win over CF Montréal. A goal contribution, in football terms, means either a goal or an assist — the direct actions that lead to a team scoring. Sullivan had three goals and three assists across those five league matches, according to The Guardian.

At 16 years and 342 days, Sullivan's 11 goal contributions this season — four goals, seven assists — are the most ever by a 16-year-old in MLS, eclipsing Freddy Adu's mark of four goals and six assists set in 2005. Adu himself had broken through at 14, debuting for DC United in 2004 at 14 years and 306 days. Sullivan went younger still: his MLS debut came on 17 July 2024 at 14 years and 293 days, making him the youngest player to debut in North American team sports history.

When the goal went in against Montréal, Sullivan celebrated by mimicking LeBron James' famous chalk toss — clapping powdered hands above his head and letting them fall. He told reporters afterward that he had been waiting for the right moment. His photographer, Kim, had been holding the chalk for multiple games before he finally performed the celebration. The win extended Philadelphia's unbeaten run to eight matches, on a night the club branded "Kick Childhood Cancer Night" (Philadelphia Union).

While Sullivan stole the headlines in Philadelphia, Portland Timbers were writing their own piece of history. Vincent Janssen, signed from Belgian club Royal Antwerp in late July, scored the first regular-season hat-trick (three goals in one match) in Timbers' MLS history — on his first start for the club, in only his fourth appearance. His goals came in the 11th, 26th, and 55th minutes of a wild 5-4 win over Minnesota United (The Guardian).

Then there was Toronto FC against Chicago Fire — a 4-4 draw that had everything. Maren Haile-Selassie opened the scoring for Chicago in the 13th minute, retrieving the ball off a corner kick and driving it in from just outside the box. Josh Sargent levelled for Toronto in the 27th, fed by a ball over the top from Djordje Mihailovic. Sargent added a second eleven minutes later after a failed Chicago clearance, completing his hat-trick before the night was through.

Robert Lewandowski contributed a goal and an assist for Chicago. Haile-Selassie grabbed his second of the match, giving him four goals in his past three appearances. Derrick Etienne Jr then tied it for Toronto in second-half stoppage time with a curling shot from the edge of the box. Both sides extended their unbeaten runs to six matches. Debutants Noah Allen and Johan Gomez appeared for Chicago; Lewis Morgan made his Toronto bow.

For neutrals, it was the kind of evening that reminds you why this league keeps pulling in new fans. A teenager breaking records with a basketball star's celebration. A striker announcing himself with a hat-trick on his first start. Eight goals shared between two teams who refused to stop attacking.