Donovan Returns to Lift Galaxy to Victory
His World Cup experience may not have gone as planned, but Landon Donovan showed again why he is one of Major League Soccer’s best players.
Donovan, playing his first MLS game since May 10, scored two goals to lead the Galaxy to a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Wizards that put an end to his team’s franchise-record 10-game winless streak.
The Galaxy (3-10-3) had last won at Real Salt Lake on April 29. The Wizards fell to 6-7-2.
It was also the first victory for Frank Yallop as coach of the Galaxy since he took over for Steve Sampson on June 7.
“It has taken a huge weight off the entire organization to get a good win,” Yallop said. “We have played pretty well in the games, but I knew that adding the piece with Landon would add quality where we needed it the most, in front of the goal.”
Donovan, criticized for his performance at the World Cup in Germany as the United States was eliminated in group play, scored in the 36th minute and in second-half injury time.
Quavas Kirk, an 18-year-old midfielder/forward for the Galaxy, registered his first MLS point with an assist on Donovan’s second goal, sending a rolling pass through the goal mouth that Donovan side-footed into an open net.
