{"id":28312,"date":"2020-07-26T15:46:54","date_gmt":"2020-07-26T19:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=28312"},"modified":"2020-07-26T15:46:54","modified_gmt":"2020-07-26T19:46:54","slug":"mib-ayo-akinola-jozy-altidore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2020\/07\/26\/mib-ayo-akinola-jozy-altidore\/","title":{"rendered":"MiB Round of 16 X-Factor: Ayo Akinola and Jozy Altidore"},"content":{"rendered":"

PREVIEW<\/strong> – They may have only played a few minutes together this year, but Ayo Akinola looks up to Jozy Altidore as a mentor. Altidore has been with the team since 2015. He is now one of the most well-known players for Toronto FC<\/a>. This includes scoring the goal that won Toronto FC their only MLS Cup in 2017 against the Seattle Sounders FC.<\/p>\n

Ayo Akinola and Jozy Altidore Partnership<\/h2>\n

The Rise of Ayo Akinola<\/h3>\n

Akinola has probably been the surprise of the MLS is Back Tournament. He has scored five goals, including a hat-trick against the Montreal Impact. This is what he said according to James Grossi of torontofc.ca<\/a> when he scored two goals against D.C. United<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always want the ball, turn and dribble, but one thing they taught me well was patience,\u201d Akinola continued. \u201cBe patient, stay between the centre-backs and eventually the ball will come to you. That I needed to improve on; they were a huge guidance, especially Jozy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Altidore has been a supportive mentor for Akinola. He was one of the first people on social media to praise Akinola on his hat-trick<\/a>.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/JozyAltidore\/status\/1283957727300063233<\/p>\n

Akinola for his hat-trick goal used his strength to dribble past an Impact player. This type of physicality has also been shown by Altidore. This shows the influence Altidore has had on Akinola\u2019s game. Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley talks about Akinola after D.C. United game according to James Grossi of toronotofc.ca.<\/p>\n

\u201cAyo has had a really, really good stretch,\u201d observed Michael Bradley<\/a>. \u201cHe’s fit, he’s sharp. He has such a unique package, in terms of being strong, fast, he has good feet, he’s smart in how he can move off of the centre-backs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Veteran Experience of Jozy Altidore<\/h3>\n

Altidore is second all-time in scoring with 72 goals. The only one with more goals in a TFC shirt, Sebastian Giovinco said this about Altidore according to Jonathan Sigel of mlssoccer.com.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very, very fun,\u201d Giovinco said of playing with Altidore<\/a>. \u201cWe compliment each other. I have great memories of Jozy. He was a very good teammate, very good person. He means so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Altidore is a physical player that is fast for his size. He is also willing to go behind the backline and score for his team. This was shown in his famous goal that won TFC the MLS Cup in 2017. Yes, Victor Vazquez also scored but that came in the last moments of the game. It was Altidore’s goal that gave Toronto FC the MLS Cup win.<\/p>\n