[AMERICANS ABROAD] Jozy Altidore followed up on his two goals against defending champion Ajax on the opening day of the Eredivisie with two goals against Heracles in AZ's 3-1 win on Sunday. Next up for Altidore and his AZ teammates: a trip to Moscow to face Samuel Eto'o's big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala  in Europa League qualifying. For more on Altidore's fast start and video of his goals against Heracles ...

Altidore put the home team ahead early in the first half and added an insurance goal in stoppage time.

"I feel better than a year ago," Altidore told the AZ web site. "Meanwhile, I have developed and I know what is expected of a striker in our system. But there are still many things I can improve."

After struggling in his first three seasons in Europe, Altidore was sold by Villarreal to AZ.

He won the confidence of Coach Gertjan Verbeek in the second half of the season and was AZ's main man, scoring five goals in five games in April. He finished with 15 goals in 34 Eredivisie games and four goals in 14 Europa League.

Altidore believes AZ can stop Eto’o.

"Of course, they have Eto'o," he said. "But I have every confidence that Nick Viergever can put him off his stride. He is probably the best defender in the Eredivisie."