Smells like teen spirit as US thrash Peru 4-1

Malik Tillman is congratulated after scoring the USA's second goal in a 4-1 victory over Peru (Rich Storry)Teenage debutants Justin Ellis and Julian Hall both scored as a youthful United States team defeated Peru 4-1 in a friendly international at Orlando on Saturday.

>Ellis was one of three teenagers named in United States coach Mauricio Pochettino's starting line-up for his team's first game since the World Cup.

>Philadelphia Union's 16-year-old prodigy Cavan Sullivan and New England Revolution's 18-year-old Peyton Miller both started alongside 19-year-old Orlando City striker Ellis in a team showing seven changes to the side beaten 4-1 by Belgium in the World Cup's last 16 in July.

>The infusion of youth was quick to make its mark, with Ellis glancing in an inviting free-kick from Gio Reyna after just four minutes in a dream start at his home stadium.

>Peru got back on level terms after just 15 minutes when veteran striker Gianluca Lapadula cleverly headed home a Yoshimar Yotun cross.

>The United States regained the lead in the second half when another teenager –- the 17-year-old substitute Mathis Albert –- burst clear down the left and was knocked to the ground by Jesus Pretell.

>Despite the foul beginning just outside the area, Jamaican referee Steffon Dewar pointed to the spot and Malik Tillman stepped up to fire home the penalty for 2-1.

>It got better for Pochettino's side on 72 minutes when 18-year-old substitute Hall bundled in a Sebastian Berhalter cross to make it 3-1.

>Berhalter then completed the scoring with a thunderous effort from just outside the area in the dying minutes to put the seal on an impressive display for the hosts.

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