Jozy Altidore headed in the game-winner in the 89th minute in the United States’ 1-0 win over Canada yesterday in a friendly global football match.
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Canada defender Doneil Henry (4) and United States forward Jozy Altidore (17) battle for the ball during the first half at StubHub Center yesterday.
It was Altidore again in the 55th minute, taking Bradley pass and running across the length of the 18-yard box only to have a strong right-footed punched away for a corner by Crepeau. United States goalkeeper David Bingham, second from right, makes a save as Canada’s Steven Vitoria, left, tries to head the ball and Mix Diskerud, second from left, and Gyasi Zardes defend during the first half of an exhibit…
Altidore rose between two defenders to powerfully head home an Ethan Finlay cross in the 89th minute as the Yanks wrapped up their annual “January” camp with a 1-0 triumph, their second last-minute victory in six days.
The lone goal by Altidore gives him a total of 33 career tallies, which is one shy of Eric Wynalda for third on the USA all-time goalscoring list.
“For the whole team, it gave everybody a lift when we scored”, Altidore said. “I didn’t think we were sharp enough in front of goal, myself included”.
“The benefit, really, of this camp comes at the end of March”, the coach said. A largely lackluster match, dominated by US possession but little actual attacking menace, changed from a scoreless draw to an American victory on a lovely cross from substitute Ethan Finlay. “And for me, this moment is a good day for us because the other goalkeepers are older ‘keepers, so we need a young boy like Crepeau”. In the final 15 minutes of the first half, the United States offense was a lot more fluid, as the hosts put together a series of great combinations that led to the United States creating chances.
The match was played less than two months before both nations resume their qualifying campaigns for the 2018 World Cup.
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Altidore narrowly missed the net with a curling free kick in the 81st minute, and Crepeau barely recovered two minutes later when Altidore chipped another chance over his head.
