JACKSONVILLE — Jozy Altidore finally scored a goal.
He had a disappointing season at club team Sunderland after only scoring two goals in 40 appearances in the English club’s 2013-2014 season. Altidore had also been held scoreless in his last 28 competitive games.
In the 32nd minute of the US men’s national team’s 2-1 victory against Nigeria, the striker tapped in a one-touch pass from training camp roommate Fabian Johnson to break through for the United States’ first goal of the afternoon. Johnson’s last four assists in national team play have all gone to Altidore.
In the 68th minute, Altidore struck again after he received a Michael Bradley pass over the top, shook off a Nigerian defender and ripped a shot into the goal. In a true striker’s mentality, after the game, Altidore said at that point he thought a shot was better than a pass to teammate Clint Dempsey — and he turned out to be right.
“It’s a wonderful message to see that Jozy put the thing in the net,” coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “It gives him a big smile at the right time . . . (the goal) will give him a lot of confidence. It’s always a tough period when you don’t score for a striker.”
For Altidore — who earned Man of the Match honors — it was two much needed conversions for a team that will need all its players in top form to make it out of Group G when World Cup play starts for the US on June 16 against Ghana. Conventional wisdom says pressure would have built around a player whose job it is to score doing everything but Altidore shrugs that notion off.
“I’ve had the pressure since I was 16, so it comes with the territory,” he said.
Altidore said the goal makes “no difference,” and he had been working to help the team in other ways during his drought.
But while the players were in Jacksonville, they had people helping them off the field. On Friday, the men’s national team met with members of the military and exchanged dogtags. They also had a welcome reception with military members as well.
Altidore wore his tags around his neck to the postgame press conference, an accessory that accented his patriotic look that featured a shirt adorned with the American flag and socks that sported a stars and stripes pattern.
“This is probably the best gift I’ve ever gotten,” Altidore said. “It means a lot to me to know that what we do affects people that serve our country today.”
The US now has its eyes squarely focused on the target ahead — Ghana. There are no more open friendlies or tune ups. Training camp is over and to the relief of Klinsmann, none of his players sustained any injuries.
They leave American soil to travel to Brazil and face “the group of death.” Doubts hover ominously about whether or not the team can even get out of its group. The talk is nearly over and finally people will be able to see for themselves. And an in-form Jozy Altidore could give them a bit more optimism to fuel that fandom.
Follow Richard Johnson on Twitter @RagjUF
United States' Jozy Altidore (17) and Nigeria's GoDrey Oboabona (14) vie for control of the ball during the second half of an international friendly soccer match on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. The United States won 2-1.
