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Altidore's atonement: Jozy shone brightest when TFC needed him most

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Football has a funny way of rewarding those who are patient.

At Sunderland, Jozy Altidore was a lightning rod for derision, scoring just once in 42 matches. Former Black Cats midfielder Don Hutchison said it best when he offered, "I feel sorry for him and that is not good for a striker."

On Saturday at BMO Field, on a hobbled ankle that threatened his participation in the MLS Cup final, Altidore was the hero. And for a player who has been the butt of perpetual jokes, it was a deserved performance.

Related: Toronto FC hero Altidore named MLS Cup MVP

Like Toronto FC, Altidore suffered hiccups towards the tail end of a record-breaking season. After securing an MLS-best 69 points, Altidore and Co. stumbled in the playoffs. His dismissal and subsequent one-match suspension for a half-time melee with the New York Red Bulls and Sacha Kljestan in the bowels of BMO Field may have felt like the zenith of a disappointing stretch.

The 28-year-old and his strike partner Sebastian Giovinco both missed the first leg of the Eastern Conference final against the Columbus Crew, courtesy of regrettable outbursts. And it showed, as Toronto was lucky to escape with a scoreless draw. Missing this critical match was emblematic of a career that appeared set to unravel for the umpteenth time.

Toronto FC was a shadow of its record-breaking self in the return leg against Columbus, and with the season on the line, Giovinco and Altidore's characteristically stellar link-up play was poor. A dire performance nearly became a nightmare when Crew defender Harrison Afful fell on the robust forward's ankle. Toronto was desperate to salvage its campaign, and its source of 17 regular-season goals could barely walk. Then, in the blink of an eye, Victor Vazquez found a streaking Altidore, who calmly slotted it past Zack Steffen on the hour mark.

Saturday at BMO Field must have felt like deja vu for Altidore, and for every fan in attendance who witnessed TFC lose on penalties in the 2016 final, thanks to a brilliant display from Seattle Sounders shot-stopper Stefan Frei. Frei was at his best again, and despite being the better of two sides, Toronto couldn't find a breakthrough.

But as was the case in the second leg versus Columbus, Altidore was the hero.

Related: Toronto FC gets revenge against Seattle to end long wait for MLS Cup glory

A sequence of deft clearances saw Toronto FC attack on the break, and similarly to when Vazquez found Altidore against Columbus, all it took was a moment of brilliance as Giovinco located the forward to send him free on goal. Altidore did the rest, and a previously nervous crowd erupted in elation as Frei was finally beaten.

In football, atonement and pedigree are forever linked, and even amid stretches of mediocrity, talent reigns supreme. For a player oft-maligned throughout his career for failures to star on the biggest stages, redemption came in the form of an MLS Cup final victory and MVP performance on Saturday.

Nobody deserves it more than Altidore.

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