E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Even after it happened, even after he scored his first MLS goal, all but saving the season for the New York Red Bulls, Jozy Altidore still couldn't believe it.
"Did I just realize that? I thought I was daydreaming for a second, honestly," Altidore said. "But then I heard the crowd roar and thought, 'Oh, shoot. That was me!'"
It was true. The 16-year-old kid born in Newark, N.J., had given the Red Bulls a much-needed three points by scoring the game-winner, beating Columbus Crew 'keeper Bill Gaudette on a knuckling shot from 30 yards out in the 83rd minute. The Red Bulls season, which was in the balance just moments earlier, was saved.
"I don't even know how to explain it, man," Altidore said. "You sit on the bench and you pray for that once chance to get in but you never think that you would score the game-winning goal in a game like this, with the importance of it. It's just a great feeling."
Altidore replaced John Wolyniec in the 74th minute after Wolyniec was bloodied by an elbow by Marcos Gonzalez in the 71st minute. Gonzalez was sent off by referee Baldomero Toledo, the third red card handed out in the game.
Red Bulls boss Bruce Arena was planning on using Altidore at some point, but with Wolyniec needing medical attention, his insertion into the game was accelerated.
"We weren't going to spend five minutes on stitching him up or getting him right in a game where there weren't going to be too many chances," Arena said. "We have to take advantage of that extra player."
As he was getting ready to check in, Arena told Altidore one thing: "We need a goal."
No problem.
The three red cards opened up the field and there was even more for Altidore when Crew defenders dropped back. So Altidore took Seth Stammler's pass and ran into space, hitting a rising rocket past Gaudette.
"The kid hit the hell out of it," Gaudette said. "He hit a knuckler like he probably couldn't hit again."
It was a goal seen by Altidore's cousin Dan, who made the trip from Baldwin on Long Island. Altidore originally didn't want his cousin to come to a game. But he's changed his mind now.
"He doesn't look like he's 16 years old. We may need to do a bone scan on this kid," Arena joked. "We'll continue to move him along. The way our team goes, with all the injuries and suspensions, he's going to get on the field a little bit more. He's 16, he's got a way to go. We'll just see."
After scoring the biggest goal of his life, his first as a professional, how did Altidore celebrate? He went back on the field to play 90 minutes in a reserve league match.
"I have energy," he said. "I'm ready to go."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
