Quinn Sullivan and Nathan Harriel returned to training with the Union on Tuesday after spending June and the first week of July with the American national male team of the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Sullivan and Harriel returned to Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, one day after the defeat of the American team 2-1 against Mexico in the Gold Cup final in Houston. They will return to the field for the Union on Wednesday, while the Union will host the New York Red Bulls rival in the semi-finals of the US Open Cup (7 p.m., CBS Sports Network, Paramount +).
“They both arrived in good health, hungry and safe from their successful trip,” said Union Bradley Carnell director. “And we have them in our group and ready in the running for the game tomorrow.”
The Gold Cup was the first tournament experience of Sullivan and Harriel with the senior national team. Before his senior team debut, Sullivan scored 10 goals out of 19 appearances for the under -20 team. Harriel appeared in four American youth teams and sat as a substitute for the senior team in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Slovenia in January 2024.
“It was an incredible experience,” said Sullivan. “”[It was] One of my dreams for a very long time for which I work very hard. It was special to represent the ridge for the first time and to be with the group. »»
Sullivan and Harriel had trouble breaking the starting range of the new American manager Mauricio Pocsettino. Sullivan appeared in the two friendly games of the Gold Cup of the team; He got out of the bench against Turkey and was a midfielder against Switzerland. He then started in the latest group game in the United States, a 2-1 victory against Haiti, and recorded three shots in 70 minutes.
“Each player wants to play,” said Sullivan. “Each player wants minutes. … The Swiss game was not my best performance, then I rebounded in the match in Haiti with a good one. I was proud of this performance and a victory for the team to be three direct victories. But the team won, the team was playing well, and it is the coach to make these decisions.”
After playing in the team’s two exhibitions of the team, Harriel did not see the field at the end of the Gold Cup final. The right back was a late addition to the American list, replacing injuries.
Even if their time on the field at the Gold Cup was limited, Sullivan and Harriel evaluated the experience of being with the senior national team during a major tournament.
“I am very grateful to the opportunity to participate in this team, to be with these staff,” said Harriel. “I mean, you want to play, but at the same time, I liked to be there to train with the guys, talk to the coaches. Choosing their brains, choosing the brain of other guys and learning as much as possible to bring back here.”
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June and July were busy months for the Sullivan family. The day before the previous night against Mexico with Quinn, 21, on the list, his younger brother, Cavan Sullivan, 15, made his first departure with the union during their 1-0 defeat against Nashville SC. Cavan played in three games for the Union while Quinn was with the American team.
“I couldn’t watch the Columbus game where [Cavan] I have half a-me-time, “said Sullivan older.” Obviously, we were playing Minnesota at that time, but [I] told him about this performance. I am always proud of him – [his] The first departure is another success. For the Sullivan family, it was a long month to have people from the distance and all that. Lots of achievements, but also new objectives to be achieved. »»
The reinforcements could not have arrived at a better time for the union, which comes out of consecutive losses. The team will recover Quinn Sullivan and Harriel before she launched into a stretch crowded on the calendar. Starting with the US Open Cup match, the union will play four games in 11 days.
Harriel and Sullivan said they were in good condition, even after picking up dust sitting on the pocket bench. Both are ready to go against the Red Bulls, which are long -standing rivals of the Union.
“Even if you have not played, you simply train with the national team and everything, you are still high level,” said Harriel. “The legs feel good, ready to leave [Wednesday]. In addition, it’s Red Bull, so it’s not that difficult to get up. »»
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The winner will come to face the winner of a quarter -final between Nashville SC and DC United on September 16. The Red Bulls will return for a regular MLS season match against the Union on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV +).
“Ready to play in another direct elimination match,” said Quinn Sullivan. “The experience I had at the Gold Cup should help me with the environment and the stage with direct elimination here.”
