Just when it seemed that it was going to be another one of those nights, Jozy Altidore stepped up to make a difference.

Toronto FC drew 1-1 with CF Montreal at BMO Field on Saturday night. 

For much of the 90 minutes, Toronto were the better side, taking the initiative on the pitch, driving the play and prodding at Montreal. The visitors had their chances, sure, but TFC looked the more likely to find the opener.

Then, in the 55th minute, a dangerous ball whipped in from the right eluded Quentin Westberg and allowed Sunusi Ibrahim to tap in the loose ball from basically inside the goal and give Montreal the lead.

TFC should have pulled level in the 71st minute when Jozy Altidore got his head on a Jonathan Osorio corner kick at the near-post, but James Pantemis’ hand was stationed correctly to block the attempt. Several half-chances later, in the 95th minute, Toronto would be granted one last look with a dangerous free-kick.

Altidore stepped up, guiding his right-footer around the defensive wall and past the goalkeeper to grasp Toronto a share of the points.

“We deserved more,” said Javier Perez post-match. “The numbers say that we deserved more and it's a little bit unbelievable that we were 10 seconds away from going empty-handed.”

“We crossed the ball 19 times against five from them, we got more possession, expected goals higher than them. Everything was on our side except one thing, which is the scoreboard,” he continued. “In the end we are happy with that point. The team looks like a team and – I don't want to sound like a broken record – but I know how hard they are working, how they are trying to get out of this situation. Tonight when that extra effort was needed, they put it on the field, the energy, and in the end, we got a point well-deserved.”

It was Altidore’s first goal since July 17, another 1-1 draw at BMO Field, where he came on late as the team returned to their home ground after starting the season in Florida.

“It feels great to score again, especially against Montreal, which is always an added bonus,” smiled Altidore. “It was great to see the people that came out tonight, behind the goal, to see them out there even with the season we had, knowing it's an important game.”

“That was special,” he added. “To have that moment with them and just talk with them a bit and manage to come out with a result tonight, that was a positive.”

Not normally considered to be on that end of a dead-ball, Altidore made the most of his look.

“I just tried to hit the target,” he said. “It was a good distance to go around the wall or go up and over the wall. I just figured I'd try to go around it – haven't tried that in a while, so I said, let me try to go around with power and I caught him by surprise. I'm happy it worked out and we were able to get a result.”

And to put a little dent in the rival’s playoff aspirations didn’t hurt either.

“That was obviously a plus,” Altidore said. “We are aware that they are pushing for a playoff spot. You want to be respectful to everybody else who are competing to make the playoffs – whether it was Montreal, doesn't matter who it was, we were going to try to give our best, especially at home, but obviously it feels a bit sweeter when you slow Montreal down a bit. That never gets old.”

It took a few looks, but the breakthrough came eventually.

“I think I got robbed the first one. I was surprised at how open I was and he made a good point-blank save. I don't have that game sharpness, normally a couple of chances I should just pass in the goal,” the striker analyzed. “It's kind of the story of the season. We've never quite lifted off fully as a group. Certain guys in, certain guys out. It's been the story of our year. But the quality is there, you saw that.”

In many ways, Altidore’s season has been reflective of the team’s: in the wilderness after a good start, a promising moment upon a return to their home patch, but then the little setbacks continued.

“Coming here to the stadium, seeing him in the training facility working by himself, it's difficult for me because I know how much he wants to succeed and to help the club. I see that he's working really hard,” said Perez. “It was a great relief to see that finally he can come, help the team, be part of the group. It paid off all the effort that he made; now we have to keep building up on that.”

“His quality is undeniable and he can be the player that he was before,” he continued. “It's been a really difficult year for him. When I first was in charge, I thought he was going to come back. Then he got the injury and he's been out for a long time. Hopefully now we can fight together for this last stretch of the season and we can get a title and we can add up some points in the table.”

For his part, Altidore said he was rejuvenated.

“To be honest, I feel the best I've felt in a long time,” he levelled. “I paid the price playing with some injuries, with some broken bones here and there. Eventually they catch up to you, but to be able to have the surgery my foot is starting to feel much much better, just to be able to run and not feel pain is a huge boon.”

“I'm excited about that and I'm taking it day-by-day, but I feel so much better now, finally, and I just want to play,” he continued. “I just want to play. I missed the game. I'm disappointed about how this year has gone. I'll be the first guy to tell you it's disappointing, but nobody is running away from anything. We take all the criticism on the chin and rightly so, but there's more here. I'm a firm believer in that.”

And the end of a tough season, to see Altidore out there, surrounded by some of the youth that continue to impress with each outing, is something to hold onto and something upon which to build.

Jacob Shaffelburg, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Noble Okello, and Jayden Nelson all featured on Saturday night, getting more and more valuable experience with each passing game.

Altidore has always been a big supporter of the next generation coming through the ranks.

“Jahkeele, when I came here, I used to see him at some of the camps, he was a little guy,” recalled Altidore. “And to see him now getting meaningful minutes, to see him locked in, improving every day, it brings me so much joy. A lot of these guys were very young when I arrived and to see them making a difference and playing important minutes, it's just as rewarding as winning a trophy.”

“To see Noble today, in a different role, in a tough game, he was fantastic. Never looked fazed, was in control throughout the 90 minutes,” he continued. “And then Jacob, we all know he's been great throughout this season. We have some very, very good young players that have to continue working, but the talent is there.”

“To see Jayden come on and be full of energy, pushing the game, trying to help us get that goal, it means so much because we spent a lot of time with these guys over the years and to see them now playing, it means the world,” Altidore added. “Hopefully it's something to build on and they can keep improving as the season goes on and into next season.”