On This Day in 2013, Altidore's Hat-Trick Fueled US Comeback and Extended Historic Winning Streak
The summer of 2013 had been transformative for both Jozy Altidore and the US Men's National Team. Coming off a Gold Cup triumph that saw the Americans claim their fifth regional championship, though Altidore didn't participate in the tournament, Altidore had finally broken through on the international stage after years of promise and frustration. His drought-ending goal against Germany on June 2 had sparked not just a personal renaissance but also helped continue a national team winning streak that was capturing global attention.
Just weeks before the Bosnia match, Altidore had completed his long-awaited return to the Premier League. After becoming the first American to score more than 30 goals in a European season with AZ Alkmaar, netting 31 times across all competitions and helping deliver the Dutch Cup, Sunderland had paid $13 million to bring the striker back to England. His previous Premier League stint with Hull City in 2009-10 had yielded just one goal in 28 appearances, leaving many to question whether he could handle the physicality and pace of English football. Now 23 and brimming with confidence, Altidore was determined to prove that his development in Holland had prepared him for this second chance.
The match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on August 14 represented more than just another friendly for Jurgen Klinsmann's side. The Americans entered Sarajevo carrying an 11-game winning streak, the longest active run in world football and just four victories shy of Spain's all-time record set in 2009. Bosnia, ranked 13th in the world and unbeaten in nine matches, posed a legitimate test for a US team that had beaten second-ranked Germany during their remarkable run. The Dragons were chasing their first World Cup appearance and sat atop their European qualifying group, making this fixture a measuring stick for American ambitions.
Klinsmann had left most of his MLS-based players at home, calling the European-based core that had driven the winning streak. Altidore arrived in Bosnia having scored in four consecutive internationals, tying the all-time US record held by legends like Landon Donovan and Eric Wynalda. The stage was set for either continued glory or a humbling reminder of the work still required before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The first half unfolded as a nightmare scenario for the Americans. Bosnia seized the initiative in the eighth minute when a turnover by Eddie Johnson led directly to danger. Edin Dzeko, the Manchester City striker who would become Bosnia's all-time leading scorer, saw his initial shot deflected by Tim Howard but was perfectly positioned to bury the rebound for a 1-0 lead. The Americans struggled to cope with Bosnia's intensity and home crowd energy, falling further behind in the 30th minute when Vedad Ibišević, who had spent part of his childhood in St. Louis, doubled the lead with a well-placed header.
At halftime, with their historic streak in serious jeopardy, the US faced its first real adversity since the run began. Klinsmann gathered his players in the locker room and delivered a message that would prove prophetic: the game remained there for the taking. The coach's calm confidence resonated with his squad, particularly Altidore, who emerged for the second half convinced that American quality would eventually shine through.
The comeback began in the 55th minute with a moment of individual brilliance that showcased the partnership between Altidore and his teammates. Michael Bradley launched a diagonal chip toward the penalty area. Altidore's subtle left-footed touch took just enough pace off the ball to set up Johnson perfectly. With goalkeeper Asmir Begović drawn out to challenge Altidore, Johnson calmly slotted the ball into the empty net, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and breathing life into American hopes.
Four minutes later, Altidore announced himself emphatically. Fabian Johnson, the versatile defender-turned-midfielder, slalomed through a crowded Bosnian defense before delivering a perfectly weighted chip. Altidore needed just one touch, unleashing a left-footed drive from 16 yards that left the diving Begović helpless. The goal was Altidore's fifth in as many international matches, breaking the US record he had shared with five other players and establishing new territory in American soccer history.
The momentum had completely shifted, and Bosnia struggled to contain an American attack that was beginning to purr with confidence. Klinsmann's halftime adjustments were paying dividends as the US found space and created chances with increasing frequency. The breakthrough moment came in the 84th minute when Edgar Castillo was tripped just outside the penalty area, presenting Altidore with a free-kick opportunity from a dangerous position.
Standing over the ball, Altidore displayed the composure and technique that had made him such a force in Holland. His curling effort lifted over the Bosnian wall and nestled into the back of the net, completing a remarkable turnaround and giving the Americans their first lead of the match. Two minutes later, he completed his second career international hat trick with a clinical finish from close range, capping one of the most dominant individual performances in recent US history.
"We came in at halftime and said, 'Listen, we can beat this team,'" Altidore explained after the match. "We came in and said, 'We have more weapons, we're just as confident as they are. We just have to put more passes together and be more confident.' And you saw that in the second half."
Dzeko's 90th-minute consolation goal provided a brief moment of tension, but the Americans held firm to secure a 4-3 victory that extended their winning streak to 12 matches. The triumph marked the first time the US had come from behind to win a match on European soil, a psychological barrier that had been broken emphatically. More importantly, it demonstrated the team's resilience and character ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifying matches that would determine their Brazil 2014 fate.
For Altidore, the performance represented the culmination of years of development and the validation of his summer move to Sunderland. His seven goals in five international appearances had transformed him from a player fighting for his place to the undisputed focal point of the American attack. The hat trick also showcased his evolution as a complete striker, combining physical presence, technical ability, and the killer instinct that had been missing from his earlier international career.
The victory set up a pivotal September that would define the US World Cup hopes. A trip to Costa Rica on September 6 would test the Americans' road form, followed by a home clash with archrivals Mexico four days later in Columbus. A positive result in either match could secure qualification for Brazil, making the Bosnia triumph both a confidence booster and a tactical blueprint for the challenges ahead.
As the team departed Sarajevo with their streak intact and their star striker in the form of his life, the Americans had every reason to believe that their greatest World Cup cycle was still unfolding. Altidore's emergence as a genuine international goalscorer, combined with the team's newfound resilience and tactical flexibility, suggested that the best was yet to come in their pursuit of World Cup glory.
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