CARSON – Landon Donovan’s regular season swansong at StubHub Center between the Los Angeles Galaxy and rival, Seattle Sounders, was emotional, dramatic, but ultimately unsatisfying as the Sounders overcame a two-goal deficit to get the draw setting up a showdown in Seattle next Saturday for the Supporters Shield.
The crowds came out in droves to support their hometown hero. Donovan received a video tribute before the match as Five For Fighting’s, John Ondrasik, provided the musical interlude on the piano in the middle of the pitch.
Despite the important game taking place on the pitch, the night belonged to Donovan who even had his favorite band, Boyz II Men, perform the national anthem. The words #ThanksLD were written into the pitch, and chants and songs for #10 echoed throughout the arena all night.
Robbie Keane returned to the team after missing the Galaxy’s last game against FC Dallas while he was away on Republic of Ireland national team duties. The potential MVP, was hounded all night by the Sounders, who implemented the “hack-a-Keane” strategy, as the Galaxy forward was hit hard every time he touched the ball.
Jamie Penedo made a huge save in the 20th minute as Seattle’s Obagemi Martins blasted a shot from right outside the six-yard box. Penedo dove to his right and in mid-air was able to deflect the shot.
The potential Western Conference championship matchup was rough and physical from the opening whistle as tough tackles and yellow cards were abundant. In all, the referee booked seven players for bad fouls. Landon Donovan’s USMNT teammate, Clint Dempsey, was given a yellow card in the 36th minute for a brutal open field tackle on Donovan.
Bosnia-Herzegovina star, Baggio Husidic, got the Galaxy on the board in stoppage time at the end of the first half. Husidic intercepted a Sounders clearance attempt and quickly shot it to the right corner of net, past Stefan Frei to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead.
Penedo opened up the second half with another remarkable save on Martins. This time, “San Penedo” came charging at Martins as he had a wide-open path to the net. The save would prove to be critical, as the Galaxy would score again minutes later.
Marcelo Sarvas was the man of the moment in the 50th minute, when he sent a lazer shot from the center of the box past Frei. The play was started by Donovan’s corner kick, but Husidic, who scored the Galaxy’s first goal, was credited with the assist for setting up Sarvas.
Seattle got on the board in the 69th minute thanks to “Captain America,” Clint Dempsey. Dempsey received a great pass from Martins off of a cross, and Dempsey buried it home from the left hand side of the net. The play was started by another USMNT teammate, DeAndre Yedlin, who sent the cross into the box.
Lamar Neagle scored the equalizer minutes later to tie the game at 2-2. Neagle was wide open on the right hand side of the box and scored untouched as he sent the shot to the left corner of the net passed Penedo. After the goal, LA Galaxy head coach, Bruce Arena, sent super-sub, Alan Gordon, into the game for Husidic.
Omar Gonzalez was shown red in the 88th minute of play for his second yellow of the night. In addition to leaving the Galaxy with only 10 men for the final few minutes of play, Gonzalez will most the show down in Seattle next week for the Supporters Shield.
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