TORONTO – If this is to be the year that Toronto FC finally reach the promised land, they will require significant contributions from Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore to do so.
Sure enough, both of TFC's American stars have stepped up in recent weeks, registering a combined four goals and four assists through the last two matches.
Bradley, the club captain, has been a man possessed. After spurring the team to a record 5-0 win last weekend against Orlando City with a trio of assists, Bradley scored the opener in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact, and it was his run and pass that led to Altidore's game-winning strike.
“A great three points,” Bradley said, before stating bluntly, “I didn't think it was our best afternoon, in terms of the sharpness and the performance.
“But you have to know how to win these kind of games. You don't get anywhere if you can only win the games that come easy … especially at home.”
Altidore, who scored two in the waning minutes last weekend, began the match on the bench, but came on for the injured Benoit Cheyrou in the 33rd minute. Moments later, TFC took the lead through Bradley – and Altidore would score what proved to be the clincher in the 55th minute.
“I found my feet,” said Altidore, who was quick to credit those around him for his improved form. Meanwhile, TFC head coach Greg Vanney credited the big striker with changing the match.
“He's definitely a different look than playing Sebastian [Giovinco] as the lone guy,” said Vanney of Altidore postgame.“I thought he did a great job for us today of making multiple runs, as was the case when he scored the goal. He wasn't the initial pass, but he kept his runs going. That was something that we've been looking for from him and he was excellent.”
“Everybody's happy” with the win, Altidore said, though a larger goal remains on his mind. “We took a big step today. We put a little distance between ourselves and the bottom of the pack; one step closer to the playoffs.”
His friend and US national team colleague was characteristically circumspect.
“It's three points and nothing more,” cautioned Bradley. “We're determined to continue to improve, to work. We'll get ourselves ready for a big game in Seattle [next weekend] and continue to take things one game at a time and see where we stand after 34 games.
“You get to this time of year and every game is big,” he added. “This is an exciting time. You play the first 20, 25 games to put yourself in a position so that as the season winds down and the weather starts to change, you've got something to play for. We've dealt with a lot of different things through the first two-thirds of the season. As things are winding down, we're excited about the group we have and the way we can continue to move ourselves forward.”
