USA goalkeeper Ethan Horvath (pictured) has played in three UEFA Champions League and 10 UEFA Europa League games for Norway's Molde. (Photo courtesy of Molde FK)
HAVANA, Cuba -- In his United States debut Friday, goalkeeper Ethan Horvath demonstrated that age doesn't matter when you possess talent.
Horvath acquitted himself well in the Americans' 2-0 win over Cuba at the Estadio Pedro Marrero, playing the entire game and making three saves.
At 21 years, 120 days, he became the youngest goalkeeper to make his first U.S. appearance since Zach Thornton (21 years, 43 days) was a substitute in a 3-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago on November 22, 1994.
"It was amazing, getting your first cap," Horvath said. "To be honest with you, I didn't think I would have to do too much today. In the end I did. I am happy I did everything to the best of my ability. I think I can leave this trip with my head held up and with a great performance."
Horvath, who did not see any action this past June as a member of the USA's Copa America Centenario squad, was one of three goalkeepers on the current roster that had little international experience entering Friday's match. Leon's William Yarbrough (2 caps) and David Bingham (0 caps) of the San Jose Earthquakes were the others.
"Playing in this game was a positive in my favor and doing as well as I did was very positive, too," remarked Horvath. "But I mean you can't take anything for granted."
When the Americans host New Zealand in another friendly on Tuesday night in Washington, DC., Horvath won't be at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. He has returned to his club Molde FK in the Tippeligaen, Norway's top league, for its remaining four games this season.
D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid, recalled to the team Saturday, Yarborough or Bingham will get an opportunity to start.
"I just do what I can do well there, play as well as I can and hopefully I get called in for the next trip against Mexico and Costa Rica," Horvath concluded.
The Americans open the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup against visiting Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, on November 11, before facing host Costa Rica four days later.
