First “Jozy” goal in 2-1 win vs. Man. City

After his goal vs. Manchester City Josmer Altidore has plenty of reasons to celebrate

The visit to Haiti after the devastating Earthquake to see firsthand the disaster there looks like was a turning point in Josmer Altidore’s soccer career. After more or less listless performances in the first half of the season in England, Josmer really stepped it up in the last games. Against Manchester United, Wolverhampton  and Chelsea you could already see a big improvement in his performances, and today vs. the “billionaires” of Manchester City he scored his first goal for Hull City. And what an important goal it was. With these 3 points Hull City escaped the relegation zone the first time since the start of the season, and Hull City can now hope with these kind of performances to stay in the English Premier League for another year.

Chances are good that we see Josmer Altidore also celebrating goals at the World Cup in South Africa

“After his return from Haiti, Josmer looks like another player. I think he realized in comparison to others, what an excellent life he has, and what a career he can have in front of him. He is working hard on the field, plays with heart, and you can see the difference. The goal vs. Manchester City today showed his class as a striker, and I am sure many more goals in the English Premier League will follow. The first one is always the most difficult, and he has this monkey now off his back. If he can continue to play like this, and he stays healthy, we can expect great World Cup games from him. This is exactly what the US National Team needs in South Africa. A healthy Josmer Altidore in game shape”, says Josmer’s former coach Dr. Josef Schulz.

Updated: February 6, 2010, 3:39 PM ET

Altidore gets 1st EPL goal as Hull upsets Man City

Associated Press

HULL, England -- U.S. forward Jozy Altidore scored his first Premier League goal Saturday in helping relegation-threatened Hull upset big-spending Manchester City 2-1.

Altidore, playing his 18th Premier League match, scored in the 31st minute after being fed by Jan Venegoor of Hesselink on the edge of the penalty area and curling into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Shay Given. The 20-year-old's only other goal for Hull came in the League Cup against Southend on Aug. 25, his second match after arriving on loan from Spain's Villarreal.

"It was just good to score, but mostly importantly it's good we won the game," Altidore said. "We've been unlucky the last few games. This is well deserved."

George Boateng scored a second in the 54th as Hull won for the first time since November despite Emmanuel Adebayor's consolation goal for City, which lost for the second time since Roberto Mancini replaced Mark Hughes as manager in December.

Altidore is set to make the American squad for the World Cup in South Africa, where the U.S. opens against England on June 12.

While Manchester City (11-4-8) is fighting for a berth in next season's Champions League, Hull (5-11-8) climbed out of the relegation zone with the win.