Quinn Sullivan scores first Philadelphia Union goal in spectacular fashion

Debut goals are special, but Quinn Sullivan scored one that will be talked about for weeks. The 17-year-old Homegrown scored his first professional goal against the Chicago Fire in the 28^th minute on a bicycle kick from a deflected corner that could earn the Union its second Goal of the Week in seven days.

Sullivan, making his first start for Alejandro Bedoya, appeared six times as a substitute this season, but the Union midfielder will likely find himself in the starting lineup more often after a performance like tonight’s. Sullivan’s goal came from a Union corner after his shot was blocked out of bounds. Jamiro Monteiro played an in-swinging cross into the box that bounced off a Chicago defender’s shoulder and fell to Sullivan. With his back to goal, Sullivan met the ball with perfect precision, and blasted into the net, leaving Fire keeper Bobby Shuttleworth helpless.

Union coach Jim Curtin spoke about Sullivan’s expanding role in the team earlier this week.

“It was long overdue that I put him out there for a longer stretch,” Curtin said. “He’s gotten better and better in training each day. I’m really happy with how much he’s developed, how well he takes in information, and he’s really good around the goal.”

In a bit of foreshadowing for the match against Chicago, Curtin added, “You guys maybe haven’t seen that yet in a longer stretch, but we see it in training.”

We see it now. The entire country sees it, too.