Nigeria lost to the United States by a goal difference Saturday, in the Americans’ final World Cup warm-up during the first half of an international friendly soccer match in Jacksonville, Fla, US, before heading to Brazil.
Except for a stumble late in the first half when they gave up a couple of scoring chances, the USA put together a complete performance against Nigeria, currently ranked 45th overall.
Meanwhile, Jozy Altidore broke his goalscoring drought as the Sunderland much-maligned striker — without a goal in 2014 — netted in the 32nd and 68th minutes as Jurgen Klinsmann’s men made it a hat-trick of wins after victories over Azerbaijan and Turkey in their “Send-Off Series.”
It was a fitting final dress rehearsal for the American squad and a confidence-boosting game for Altidore, who seems to have rediscovered his scoring touch.
Altidore opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, finishing from close range after a deft pass from Fabian Johnson.
Altidore blasted a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner for his second goal in the 68th minute.