BOCA RATON, Fla. – Not only did Jozy Altidore get just his second goal since June in the USMNT's 1-1 draw with Honduras on Tuesday, he got to register a much-needed tally in front of friends and family from South Florida and beyond.
The Sunderland striker scored twice in the USA’s final World Cup warm-up game against Nigeria in Jacksonville on June 8, raising hopes for his chances of making an impact in Brazil, but an injury in the opening game against Ghana cruelly cut short his World Cup experience.
Since then, he has hit a solitary strike for Sunderland in their Capital One Cup defeat to Stoke City in September, and his 10th minute goal against Honduras – a low drive into the bottom corner – was clearly a massive boost.
“It is always a nice feeling when you score for the national team but I had all my family here – my cousins from Haiti they came so it was really special,” he said after the game at FAU Stadium.
"I played a lot of tournaments as a kid here on the front fields and it is kind of surreal to be back here. I never thought I would play for the national team here in front of so many people who helped me get to this point, so it was really nice for me."
Despite Altidore’s struggles for playing time at the Stadium of Light – he has made just two Premier League starts so far this season – USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has kept faith in his No. 9 and the coach was delighted to see that loyalty rewarded.
“The best medicine you can get as a striker is scoring goals, I hoped he would add another one to finish the game off but he didn’t really have chances then,” said the German. “The goal was a little bit similar in a way to the one he scored against Nigeria before the World Cup.
“Having him back scoring is huge for his confidence, it is good for us as well obviously and hopefully he takes that energy with him back to the Premier League and gets a couple of goals there as well.”
Altidore has been clear in his comments while back in the States that he will look for a move to another club if he doesn’t get more playing time at Sunderland, but said that for now he was ready to get back to work in northeastern England.
“[I have to do] the same thing I have always been doing, keep plugging away and try to take my chances when they come. It is not easy, obviously, but it is what it is, the situation I am in,” he explained. “I have nothing negative to say about Sunderland – I like being there, I like the fans, I enjoy the coach, I have a lot of good friends there. It is just about making it work, and if not, then looking elsewhere.”
