EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Being labeled the “next big thing” in United States soccer by ESPN Magazine may be a term unfairly labeled for the 17 year-old Red Bulls forward Josy Altidore. Now starting his first full MLS campaign, Altidore could start getting a swelled head, especially with critics stating that he might make enough strides eventually to be a future star.

On the other hand, with the Red Bulls struggling on the field and at the gate in years past, Altidore’s performance against the Houston Dynamo might make made those on the fence fans come back on the bandwagon. Though the night was labeled as the return of Claudio Reyna, the Red Bulls midfielder and captain who returned home, it was Altidore that stole the spotlight.

Altidore was superb as he willed a 10-man Red Bulls squad with a second half goal in the 60th minute to give his team a 1-0 win over the defending MLS champions. The Red Bulls 2-0-1 record and seven points lifted them to first place in the Eastern Conference.

The Red Bulls were down a man due to a red card issued to forward Clint Mathis in the 36th minute of the first half for his aerial challenge on Houston’s Ryan Cochrane. Manager Bruce Arena could have refigured the gameplan to hold out for the draw.

But the Red Bulls tightened up defensively and reconfigured their 4-4-2 alignment to place Altidore as the lone striker. Houston, who fell to a record of 1-1-1 (4 points), had the one-man advantage but they lacked the focus and precision to make it count.

Arena will take the win, especially when they made the best out of their chances.

“Those games are never easy…We had to obviously play with 10 men for 60 minutes. We regrouped at halftime. We had to defend well as a unit and pick our spots to go forward when the opportunity came, we had to bury it,” Arena said.

Altidore would break through with that opportunity but not without some difficulty. He didn’t get frustrated after missing on some excellent scoring chances in the first half, and being beaten up by Houston defenders throughout the game.

He would get one last chance to end his frustration. Altidore knocked down the game winner in the 60th minute, converting on a pass by right back Hunter Freeman in the penalty box and kicking it through the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Pat Onstad.

“It was too many chances,” Altidore, who scored his second goal of the season, said with a grin. “Every week I go through that and I know I need to convert.I feel that I’m getting better but I still feel there is room for improvement. I’m just happy for that last chance.”

In the case of the emerging talents of Altidore, Arena warns people to not expect a performance on the level of international superstars like Wayne Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo just yet. Right now his development is coming along nicely, giving the Red Bulls an undefeated start to their season.

“Great goal….That’s what strikers are supposed to do, score goals. He hung in there after missing a great chance. He hung in there. He didn’t give up or put his head down. He waited for the next chance and put it away.”

Arena cautions people to not think ahead of the season, especially with 27 more regular season games to go. He can admit to saying that tonight’s performance in an early test against the Dynamo was a success, especially when the Red Bulls performed valiantly down a player for 60 minutes against the defending champions.

For Reyna, who played the entire 90 minutes and anchored the midfield well after missing the 3-0 win against FC Dallas last weekend, will take regard this win as a success and early return on the Red Bulls hard work.

“It was a big win for our confidence. It gave us a chance to beat the defending champions and get a win. It was a great team effort. Everyone had to do their little bit extra to get their result. It’s a good thing that we believed we can still win the game.”

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