BRIDGEVIEW, Ill.—After missing much of the season with a persistent hamstring injury, Jozy Altidore is hitting his stride at a pivotal time for Eastern Conference leaders Toronto FC.
Altidore has appeared in only 17 league matches this season, starting 10, because of a persistent hamstring strain. But now, after scoring the opening goal and assisted on the second in Saturday night's 2-1 away victory over the Chicago Fire, the big striker has six goals in his last eight MLS matches.
He's also fresh off a star turn with the US national team in World Cup qualifying, scoring three goals in routs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.
"Jozy does a lot for us on the field on both sides of the ball, attacking and defending," said manager Greg Vanney. "And obviously he’s a guy that can hold up the ball. He’s strong. He brings so much to our group from his personality to what he does on the field for us on both sides of the ball and it’s great to have him scoring goals.
"I know he feels great, he’s in a good place, and it’s up to us to just keep working with him to make sure that he stays there. I think we’ve got the right answers for that now.”
Altidore, for his part, downplayed any distractions from media scrutiny — both when he was struggling with injury and now, when he's coming up big for a club with aspirations of being the first Canadian side to hoist MLS Cup.
“Anybody knows me, I’m a simple guy,” he said. “I don’t really buy into all that stuff. I’m happy to do what I do for a living, take care of my family, and enjoy these amazing experiences that I am blessed to have. Being able to travel the world, play soccer, represent my country, represent the great city of Toronto, I’m just lucky and I just try to enjoy the ride.”
Altidore scored the Reds' opening goal shortly after the half-hour mark, slotting home from the edge of the area following a quick breakaway by Justin Morrow on the left. Toronto FC doubled the lead in the 52nd minute when Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson threw the ball straight to Altidore, and his controlled touch set Jonathan Osorio for the calmest of finishes into the empty net.
Chicago pulled one back on Michael de Leeuw's header in the 58th, but never found an equalizer as TFC rebounded from their 1-0 loss to the Montreal Impact on August 27.
“I think we’ve done a very good job this year – and the guys have done a good job – of rebounding after a loss and responding in a good way," Vanney said. "This has been a tough place for us over the course of the last ten years or so, I don’t think we’ve ever won here, so we’re pleased with that.
"We knew it was going to be a battle. This is a Chicago team that I think is playing very well and is finding their footing, and we knew it was going to be a challenge. And it was, until the end.”
