FanSided MLS
·10 December 2024
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Yahoo sportsFanSided MLS
·10 December 2024
Toronto FC fans often look back with immense pride and nostalgia on the team’s historic triumph in the 2017 MLS season.
Central to this success was Jozy Altidore, who delivered one of the most iconic moments in the club's history: the game-winning goal in the MLS Cup final against the Seattle Sounders.
Altidore’s 2017 campaign was nothing short of extraordinary. The American striker played 33 matches across MLS and the Canadian Championship, amassing an impressive 18 goals and 7 assists. His partnership with Sebastian Giovinco was a lethal combination, one that Toronto FC fans cherish to this day.
The 2017 MLS Cup final, held on December 9, saw Toronto FC square off against Seattle Sounders in a battle of the league’s best. Toronto FC, champions of the Eastern Conference, faced the Sounders, the second-best team in the Western Conference.
After a dominant first half where Toronto created numerous chances but failed to convert, the breakthrough finally came in the 67th minute.
Sebastian Giovinco provided a brilliant assist, threading the ball perfectly to Altidore, who calmly slotted it past the Sounders' goalkeeper. The goal sent BMO Field into a frenzy and proved to be the turning point of the match.
Victor Vázquez added a second goal in stoppage time, sealing Toronto FC’s 2-0 victory and their first MLS Cup title. For Altidore, the goal was not just a highlight of the season but a defining moment in his career, solidifying his status as a Toronto FC legend.
Jozy Altidore’s impact at Toronto FC extends far beyond the 2017 season. Joining the club in 2015, he became a cornerstone of the team’s success during his six-year tenure, which lasted until 2021. Now retired at 35, Altidore is remembered as one of the greatest players to ever wear the Toronto FC jersey.
His contributions during the 2017 season, in particular, remain etched in the memories of fans. The combination of skill, determination, and leadership he displayed continues to inspire a club that has since struggled to replicate that golden era.
As Toronto FC marks the anniversary of their 2017 MLS Cup victory, the memory of Jozy Altidore’s heroics stands out as a symbol of what the club can achieve. December 9, 2017, is a date that will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Toronto FC fans—a day when Jozy Altidore became a legend and Toronto FC reached the pinnacle of Major League Soccer.