Just 60 seconds after entering Friday night's friendly against Canada, substitute Ethan Finlay delivered a lovely ball which Jozy Alitdore headed in to win the match 1-0 for the United States.

The 26-year-old striker scored his 33rd goal for the national team in the process. Altidore is now just one goal away from tying Eric Wynalda (34 goals) for third place in the United States all-time goal scorers list.

Klinsmann praises the effort

"He [Jozy Altidore] deserved that goal. He really deserved it," U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann said at his postgame press conference. "He was trying hard you know. He missed a couple of ones but it went in."

Everybody in the StubHub Center erupted when Altidore scored. The cheers for his goal came as a mixture of joy and relief. The USMNT had dominated the match from the very start, and they outshot the Canucks 17 to four. The Americans had seven of those on target, compared to zero for the Canadians.

The USMNT midfield was in control of the match as well, as they had 56 percent of the possession. The Yanks connected on 476 of their passes in the match, which added up to solid 83 percent completion percentage. Meanwhile, Les Rouges struggled to complete 381 passes and ended the game with a 77 percent of completion.

Offensive struggles

However, where the United States failed to show their class was in the final third. The Yanks struggled to deliver the final ball into the box throughout the match. The midfield build up was smooth and quick, but somehow the last pass or touch consistently evaded them.

In the end the USMNT manage to connect on 172 passes in the final third, adding up to a mediocre 75 percent completion percentage. Even when it came to crosses the United States struggled. When the referee blew the whistle to end the match, the U.S. had only completed 20 crosses, a measly 30 percent completion percentage.

Regardless that their passing was at times ineffective in the final third, their midfield shut out Canada’s offense for the majority of the game.

"They [USMNT] more than deserved the win," Klinsmann said. "In the second half there was only one team playing, it was us. Canada in the first 20 to 25 minutes was alright, they were trying to open up the game, but then it was just us doing all the work. So it was nice that we got that result."

Early chances

Altidore nearly gave the United States the lead in the 16th minute. He slid to the ground to hit the ball and his shot had beaten Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau at his bottom right hand post. However, the ball smacked the woodwork, then the keeper and then the post one more time before the chance was over.

The Toronto FC striker was involved again for the next chance for the Stars and Stripes in the 37th minute. However, this time he delivered a through ball by chipping a pass to a cutting Jordan Morris in the box. Morris then attempted a chip to the top right hand corner of the net, but the ball went just wide of the goal. Canada defense was holding on to the scoreless draw at that point.  

Physical match

The United States ended up finishing the first half by outshooting the Canadians seven to one. Yet somehow the score still remained a scoreless draw. Then the rivalry match began to turn physical. A combined 29 fouls were called, 35 tackles were committed and two yellow cards were shown in the match.

However, the U.S. midfield moved past that phase of the game and shut down Canada’s six men midfield for the rest of the match. Once again Alitdore was involved in the attack. USMNT midfielder Mix Diskerud had the ball near the center of the box in the 53rd minute, when he sent in a curving pass into the heart of the box.

Altidore jumped up and made contact with the cross. He headed the ball towards the bottom left hand post, and it appeared to be going in only to bounce just wide of the goal. Altidore finished the game with a total of eight shots, three of which were on target.

Bradley's déjà vu

However, a few minutes later Bradley almost put the United States ahead with an Olimpico. The captain took a corner from the left hand side at the 57th minute, and sent in a wicked ball heading towards the roof of the net. The ball was about to enter the net, until Crepeau made one of his six saves in the match to keep the game scoreless.

Not only did the Yanks struggle with their passes and touches in the final third, but the pesky Canadian defense and goalie did not allow them to breathe in the box. Between Crepeau and his defenders, they stopped 12 U.S. chances in the match.

Altidore finally gets the breakthrough

Regardless of the United States tireless effort on the offensive end it seemed that the game was going to end scoreless. Until Altidore broke the backs of the Canadian defense with his head, while at the same time he sent the U.S. fans into a state of elation.

The United States will conclude the January camp with this victory going (W-D-L) 2-0-0. However, now the USMNT will have to wait till the ending of March for their next games.

The U.S. will travel down to Central America to face Guatemala on March 25th for a World Cup Qualifier match. Then, four days later, they head back to the states to face the Chapines at MAPFRE Stadium on March 29th.