Jozy Altidore scores with cheeky chip from distance to match Dempsey goal record

It's a cliche to describe a chip as "cheeky." It seems virtually all chips are described that way. But if ever there was one deserving of such a label, it's Jozy Altidore's chip against Ajax from 40 yards out in AZ Alkmaar's 3-0 Dutch Cup semifinal win.

Altidore already had one goal on the day (and set up another) and with the match in its final minute of injury time, the result was already certain. But with AZ on the counter, Altidore saw that Ajax's goalkeeper was way off his line and quickly decided to chip the ball over his head from distance. It was perfectly executed and Altidore added the final exclamation of his superiority on the day by laughing heartily before he celebrated.

With that brace, Altidore now has 23 goals in all competitions this season. According to Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl, that matches the record for Americans (US national team eligible -- i.e. not Giuseppe Rossi) in Europe that Clint Dempsey set last season with Fulham. Of course, you could say that Dempsey's effort was a bit more impressive since he did it with a Premier League club while Altidore is playing against the lenient defenders of the Eredivisie, but Altidore still has a few months left. And it's certainly an encouraging sign for a US team desperate for a consistent scorer.

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