Hometown Hero, Jozy Altidore Scores in 1-1 Draw With Honduras in Boca Raton

Photo by: Rosa Cavalcanti

By: Pedro Heizer

For Boca Raton native, Jozy Altidore, the match versus Honduras at FAU Stadium brought back memories.

With 14,805 people in attendance, and over 70 of those being Altidore’s friends and relatives, the match was an emotional one for the Sunderland AFC striker.

“It was like the old days, ’’ Altidore said. “It was kind of surreal to be here playing where it all started … a lot of emotions here in Boca. It was really nice for me. It was great to have everybody here with me, even cousins from Haiti who flew in to see me play. It was a really special feeling for them to be here.’’

Altidore could not have asked for a better homecoming story.

In the 10th minute, Mix Diskerud stole the ball in the midfield and pushed it forward to Clint Dempsey, who then back-heeled a slick pass to Michael Bradley, who found Altidore on the left side.

Altidore chested it down and aggressively took on Honduras defender Victor Bernardez one-on-one, cutting inside to his right and shot right-footed inside the near left post for the early one-goal lead.

“It is always a nice feeling when you score for the national team but I had all my family here – my cousins from Haiti they came so it was really special,” he said after the game at FAU Stadium.

The goal was Altidore’s 24th international goal, tying Joe-Max Moore for fifth place on the American career list.

“I played a lot of tournaments as a kid here on the front fields and it is kind of surreal to be back here. I never thought I would play for the national team here in front of so many people who helped me get to this point, so it was really nice for me.”

Altidore’s storybook homecoming was spoiled in the end when Honduras found the equalizer in the 86th minute.

Diskerud was booked for a tackle about 25 yards out, Honduran midfielder Mario Martinez whipped in a left-footed free kick from the right side, easily eluding the USA’s two-man wall and finding Honduran captain Maynor Figueroa in the middle of the box. The Honduras captain fought off Jermaine Jones and redirected with the header past Nick Rimando to earn the equalizer.

The disappointing ending was the second in five days for the Americans. The U.S. team lost a lead late against Ecuador on Friday night in East Hartford, Conn., and settled for a 1-1 tie.

Below is a video of Altidore’s goal: