By Brendon Hanley Jun 25, 2009, 1:24 GMT
Bloemfontein, South Africa - When Jozy Altidore scored the first goal against Spain in the 27th minute of the Confederations Cup semi-finals, it was a sweet vindication for the up-and-coming striker, who has struggled to get a game in Spanish club football.
The 19-year-old transferred to Villareal from New York for an MLS record 10 million dollars last summer, but was loaned out to Xerez and still didn't get much of a run with the second division club.
But his vital goal in the 27th minute against the European champions was another career highlight for the player who already holds the record for youngest-ever hat-trick scorer for the US national team.
Altidore, who has seven national team goals in 15 appearances, has played in all four matches at the Confederations Cup, often furrowing a lonely path up front. The goal also broke his minor drought for the national team that started since that hat-trick against Trinidad and Tobago on April 1.
'It's definitely been tough for my confidence to go without goals,' he said after the match. 'But I feel like a weight has been lifted now.
'I have been unlucky here,' he said about his barren streak in South Africa. But he recognizes the importance of his tally in what many are calling the most significant US victory of all time.
'It was big to score first because we proved we could be dangerous,' he said.
It was extra special for the powerful player who turned well and held off club-mate Joan Capdevila on the goal.
'I'm young, so any opportunity is good to take,' said the driven youngster, who admitted to sending a jokingly taunting email to the Villareal starter earlier in the tournament. 'I just have to be more consistent in taking them.'
When asked if he felt like the goal against La Furia Roja would help his plight in Spain, where he became the first American player to score in La Liga when he bulged the net against Bilbao last November, he said it wasn't that important, though he obviously enjoyed it.
'I think in Spain they know what I can do,' said the player, who also holds the record for youngest player to score in the MLS playoffs. 'But it was definitely special for me because I play with them and know some of these guys. But more important is for the team to prove that we could play with anyone.'
He also is the youngest American to score in their debut international and the youngest to score in a World Cup qualifier.
His impact and potential have not gone unnoticed by his teammates. Central defender Oguchi Onyewu, who thwarted innumerable Spanish attacks in Bloemfontein on Wednesday, was full of praise for the powerful striker.
'Jozy's still really young,' he said. 'But he has a lot of quality. He definitely hasn't reached peak yet, but he's in stride to be a world class player.'
Clint Dempsey, who set up Altidore for his goal and scored one of his own in the second half, agreed: 'He's a young guy who brings a different dynamic to our team. He's strong and big and holds the ball well. He did well to turn that guy and it was big for us to get that goal.'
Captain Carlos Bocanegra danced around the idea of labelling Altidore as the next US star. 'I don't want to put a label on him like that,' said the defender. 'But he definitely has the physical qualities to do it. He is a great player already, and he is a big part of this team even though he is so young.'
Altidore, whose parents were born in Haiti, also has a special connection to South Africa. He won his first cap in a tournament here against Bafana Bafana, just days after his 18th birthday.
'South Africa has been very special for me and my career, and we still have the final now,' he said with a knowing smile.
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