April 30, 2008 MLS Toronto FC vs New York Red Bulls pregame story (from MLSnet.com)
04/30/2008 6:50PM
Angel's return a relief for Altidore
Red Bulls eager to have dangerous strike pair back together
By Dylan Butler / MLSnet.com Staff
With Juan Pablo Angel limited because of a nerve-related back injury, Jozy Altidore has been the focal point of the Red Bulls attack in recent weeks. As a result, the 18-year-old scored two goals, set up another and has been bruised and battered by opposing defenders. But Altidore should receive some relief with the anticipated return of Angel to the field against Toronto FC on ESPN MLS Primetime Thursday at BMO Field (7 p.m. ET).
Angel, who missed the match at FC Dallas, came off at halftime against the Revs and was sidelined in the Red Bulls' 2-0 home victory against San Jose Sunday, received a cortisone shot to eliminate swelling resulting from spondylosis, a degenerative inflammatory arthritis of the lower back.
"I'm just thinking one day at a time," Angel said Tuesday. "Today was a big day for me because I managed to train with the team through the full session for the first time in a week and we'll see how it feels tomorrow."
Angel and Altidore are considered one of the most lethal striking tandems in Major League Soccer. But they've spent all of 45 minutes on the field together this season because of injuries to both forwards.
When the two play together, the Red Bulls are 5-3-2 and both wreaked havoc on Toronto FC last year. Angel scored a brace to lead New York to a 2-1 win at BMO Field and Altidore scored two and Angel added another goal in a 3-0 win at Giants Stadium.
"I think Juan showed last season that he can be lethal in and around the box," Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said of Angel. "He has been dealing with a little bit of a back issue but he looked very well and very mobile in training so if he keeps doing what he's doing at the moment and keeps progressing, he will be a great asset to this club."
Angel's return to the field, however, isn't the end of the Red Bulls injury concerns. Defender Kevin Goldthwaite, who has been one of the team's early season surprises, left Sunday's 2-0 win against the Quakes with a sprained back.
Goldthwaite, the club's only left-footed defender, is hopeful to be healthy enough to make his return to Toronto, the club that dealt him to New York last year.
"It's getting better. I'm just taking it day by day right now. It feels much better than it did the other day,'' Goldthwaite told reporters Tuesday. "I went to the doctor and got an MRI and X-rays done yesterday, and they came back negative. It feels good right now, and we'll see Thursday how it feels in the morning."
Hunter Freeman, recovering from a right ankle sprain suffered during an Olympic qualifier last month, was on the substitutes' bench Sunday and could make his 2008 debut Thursday night.
Another former TFC defender, Andrew Boyens, will play for the Red Bulls in a reserve match against Toronto at BMO Field Friday morning. Osorio said he is close to making a decision on the 6-foot-4 central defender from New Zealand. Another trialist, Guillermo Imhoff, has returned to Argentina, but that doesn't mean the Red Bulls have closed the door on the left-footed defender.
"We had Chris Innes in here, we've had Guillermo and we're looking at some other players, so we're going to make a decision in the next couple of weeks," Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos told reporters Wednesday. "There's no need for Guillermo to stay here."
While Altidore is the Red Bulls' leading scorer, Amado Guevara leads Toronto FC following a double in a 2-0 win against Kansas City that extended TFC's club-best winning streak to three games.
If Guevara plays more in the center of midfield, TFC has a dangerous one-two punch with Maurice Edu. And with Guevara joining former Newcastle United star Laurent Robert, Toronto has two lethal set piece takers.
"If he plays as an attacking midfielder, then we will make some adjustments in the midfield," Osorio said of Guevara. "I would expect him to play as a deep striker so that's more for us to make that adjustment in the defensive department. But in both cases, I think we have players who can respond to that challenge."
Of course, the Red Bulls players are quite familiar with Guevara, who was named MLS MVP (2004) in his four years with New York.
"I played with Amado for my first two years and it was nothing but enjoyment," Altidore said. "He's a superb player, a great person and I definitely miss him as a teammate. I'm very happy for him."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
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