Isana HairDesign
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Isana Hair Design
one-promotion
CARSON, Calif. – They weren't Landon Donovan's most spectacular goals or his most significant. And they won't do a single thing to change the mind of Jurgen Klinsmann.
But when Donovan ended a dramatic week that saw his World Cup dream extinguished by striking home the Galaxy's second and fourth goals in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday, there have been few sweeter moments in his 15-year professional career.
The StubHub Center in this enclave of Los Angeles is a long way removed from the gleaming new stadia that will host this summer's World Cup in Brazil, both in distance and gravitas. Yet this is home for Donovan, the 32-year-old stalwart and sometimes hero of three United States' World Cup campaigns but deemed not good enough to make Klinsmann's 23-man roster.
And home can bring certain comforts. Like the presence of his divorced parents, his sister and nephew, his godchild and countless other friends who changed plans to lend support at the time he most needed them. Like banners in Donovan's honor, the chants of "U-S-A" as the crowd voiced its displeasure at Klinsmann's decision and the standing ovation he got when he was replaced with 10 minutes left feeling spent, emotionally and physically.
"The support has been overwhelming," Donovan said. "It is funny the way things work out. I try to stay present but it is hard. All day today, my mind was wondering, thinking of where else I could be. All I said to myself was to enjoy this game and do my best and I am glad I was able to do that."
Donovan's best has been missing for large parts of this season and, some would argue, for much of the last couple of years. Yet with a point to prove in the face of Klinsmann's stunning snub he was re-energized here.
It took just two minutes for him to float a free kick that set up Galaxy defender Leonardo for a header and the opening goal. But what he, the crowd and a vast subsection of the American soccer public wanted to see more than anything was a Donovan goal. For that, the wait was a little longer.
