U.S. Men's National Team striker Jozy Altidore scored two goals, leading his team over Nigeria 2-1 on Saturday in a friendly, the final match of the Americans before heading to Brazil.
More importantly, the pair of goals ended six months of scoreless streak for the Sunderland forward.
Altidore scored his fear goal in the 31st minute, his first goal since December 4 last year when Sunderland played Chelsea. He then scored another in the 68th minute, beating goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to the post with a right-footed shot for his 23rd goal in international play.
Afterwards, he told the Associated Press he was not bothered at all by his streak saying: ''To be honest, it makes no difference. I don't know if it's weird to you, but it's not weird to me. I've played for this team for such a long time that I think it's my responsibility to kind of help the team in other ways, tracking back and just being somebody now that the other guys can look up to. And I take that very serious.''
Coach Jurgen Kilinsmann said the pair of goals will boost Altidore's confidence. He added: "It's always a tough period when you don't score for a striker. And everybody around you let's you know that. You get more and more anxious about the situation. ... You work harder and harder, which he did the last three-and-a-half weeks in camp. ... And then you just wish, you know, that the moment comes and you put it in there and you go start to be your old self again."
The win gave the U.S. a 3-0 record in the send-off series following wins over Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Americans will open the World Cup on June 16 against the team that eliminated them in the past two World Cups, Ghana. They'll then play Portugal and Germany.
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