The Los Angeles Galaxy gave Landon Donovan a fairy-tale ending to his storied career on Sunday, after beating the New England Revolution 2-1 in extra-time to win the MLS Cup final.
Ireland international Robbie Keane scored the winning goal in the 111th minute as the Galaxy claimed a record fifth MLS title.
Donovan — the all-time leading scorer for the US’ national team and top-tier league — in August said he would retire at the end of the season after he was left off Jurgen Klinsmann’s FIFA World Cup squad.
Photo: AFP
League MVP Keane endured a difficult afternoon at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles, but came through when it mattered the most, slipping in behind the defense thanks to superb ball from Marcelo Sarvas to slide a shot into the bottom-right corner and win the game.
“It was a tough game,” Keane said. “I think we didn’t play as well as we know we can at home, but it doesn’t really matter. At the end of the day, we won and we’re the champions again.”
The Galaxy seized the lead in the 52nd minute after Gyasi Zardes got on the end of a Stefan Ishizaki cross and fired a shot past New England ’keeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
Photo: AFP
The Revolution equalized in the 79th minute when rookie substitute Patrick Mullins got free on the left and got the ball to Chris Tierney, who took one touch and slotted it past Galaxy ’keeper Jaime Penedo.
“A lot of credit to New England,” Donovan said. “In a lot of ways they played better than we did today. They were terrific.”
In becoming the first club to win five MLS Cup titles, the Galaxy made the Revolution the first team to lose five MLS championship matches. Three of those defeats came at the hands of the Los Angeles side.
The triumph made Donovan the first player to win six MLS Cup titles: four with Los Angeles in 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2014; and two with San Jose in 2001 and 2003.
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