Donovan Reaches 20 Goals

On Sunday afternoon, Landon Donovan became only the second MLS player to score 20 goals in a single season since 2002, reaching the magic number by converting a late-game penalty to help the L.A. Galaxy earn a 2-2 draw against FC Dallas.

Donovan became the ninth player in MLS history to record a 20-goal season [ISI Photos]

The game was of little importance in the grand scheme of things, as both the Galaxy and FC Dallas have long-since been denied of going to the postseason, but did feature the league’s #1 and #2 goalscorers in a head-to-head faceoff for the Budweiser Golden Boot. Coming into the game, Donovan held a 19-18 advantage over Kenny Cooper, with Galaxy teammate Edson Buddle in a tie for third place with 14 goals. As it turns out, Cooper would be the only one of the three not to tally on the afternoon, with Buddle getting on the scoresheet in the 21st minute and Donovan locking up the Boot in the 79th.

“I’m very proud of it,” Donovan admitted after the match. “I would have like, like most years, to have played more games. That’s the situation though, but given everything, I’m very proud of it. I really wanted to get to 20 goals; thanks to Eddie Lewis, today I got it. Not many people do it, here or anywhere else in the world.”

Before D.C United’s Luciano Emilio accomplished the feat last season, the last players to hit the 20-goal mark were former Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz and New England’s Taylor Twellman in 2002, when they notched 24 and 23, respectively.