TORONTO — The old cliché about money not being able to buy happiness does not apply to Toronto FC this week, as the club celebrated the return of its two highest-paid players with back-to-back victories.
Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls was the second straight for TFC since American stars Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley rejoined the side after representing their country at the Gold Cup earlier this month. Along with Toronto's third highest-paid player, midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo, Toronto rode the stellar play of its biggest earners to a pair of crucial wins as the club looks to solidify its spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Altidore and Pozuelo got onto the scoresheet in both games, starting with last weekend's 2-0 victory on the road against the Montreal Impact, proving just how critical it is for TFC to have both men on the field at the same time.
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On Wednesday, Altidore got things going with a sublime backheel goal in the sixth minute that will surely earn a nod for goal of the week. The strike was matched by the build-up that preceded it, with Toronto putting together 14 passes before Altidore's superb touch.
The sweetest of back-heels. #TFCLive #TORvRBNY pic.twitter.com/NJS4Ocu5TT
— Rudi Schuller (@RudiSchuller) July 18, 2019
"It was a goal that gives everybody confidence because everybody had a part to play in it," Altidore said. "It's kind of from the training ground — obviously not the goal itself, but the movement. Being in the right spot, opening up for each other, and then trying to end plays higher up the field. Not losing balls in that area. It was a great ball from Tsubasa [Endoh], and it was a great team goal."
Twenty minutes later, it was Pozuelo's turn. After right back Richie Laryea was scythed down in the Red Bulls' penalty area, Altidore stepped up to take the ensuing spot-kick. After conferring with his teammate, Altidore made way for Pozuelo, who effortlessly stroked the ball into the lower-left corner to give Toronto an early two-goal lead.
Another perfect Pozo penalty 👌@Pozuelo_10 | #TFCLive pic.twitter.com/rI6BxynD2T
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) July 18, 2019
The early magic from the attacking duo gave Toronto enough of a cushion to withstand a second-half onslaught from the Red Bulls and cement consecutive victories against opponents in playoff position for the first time in nearly two years.
Needless to say, it's imperative that TFC has its biggest attacking threats on the field as much as possible as it looks to improve on its current sixth-place position in the East.
"Their quality separates them," TFC head coach Greg Vanney said. "Jozy gets a couple of chances today, puts one in the back of the net. Same for Pozuelo. He doesn't need many chances, but also his ability in these games when there's a lot of pressure to wiggle away from the pressure and find a guy who has a little bit of time, it immediately breaks the pressure that they were putting on us. That helped a lot."
Unfortunately for Toronto, the renewed Altidore-Pozuelo partnership only lasted an hour on Wednesday as the midfielder left the game following a hard challenge by New York's Derek Etienne Jr. Pozuelo rolled his left ankle on the play, leaving his immediate future in doubt.
With another crucial home game coming up for TFC on Saturday, Vanney remains hopeful his star midfielder will be good to go in short order.
"We probably won't know [the extent of Pozuelo's injury] until we get to [Thursday]," Vanney said. "I guess the good and bad news is it's an ankle that he's injured in the past, so it's already a little looser, which means that's probably a good thing because it already has some elasticity. The bad news is we just don't know how long it'll be, hopefully it's not too serious."