New England Soccer Today

Altidore’s Strike Secures Win for U.S.

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

The United States closed out their annual January camp on a high note thanks to a late Jozy Altidore goal to grab a 1-0 win over Canada on Friday at the StubHub Center.

Altidore scored in the 89th minute when he snapped an Ethan Finlay cross into the back of the net from close range. Altidore’s goal was the second time in as many games that the U.S. scored the game-winner in the 89th minute.

Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen got his second straight start in his ninth cap while former Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones was slotted at center back for the first time since Feb. 2015.

Nguyen went 61 minutes before he was spelled by Darlington Nagbe, and accumulated a total of 151 minutes across the U.S.’s two friendlies this week. He is slated to re-joined his Revolution teammates for preseason camp in the coming days.

The U.S. outshot their northern neighbors 17-3, but chances created by Nguyen, Michael Bradley and Altidore all fell by the wayside before the decider was scored. Canada survived a nervy moment late when keeper Maxime Crapeau was called upon to make an emergency save on a chip from Altidore in the 83rd minute.

With the win, the U.S.’s mark early in the calendar year went 2-0-0.

The U.S. will return to action on Mar. 25 for a World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City.

Leave a Reply