Donovan in Fine Form as Gold Cup Approaches
With the CONCACAF Gold Cup coming up in less than a month, United States all time leading scorer Landon Donovan is hitting his stride at just the right time this season. His club team the Los Angeles Galaxy, sit atop of the MLS standings, and they have Donovan to thank for putting them in that position.
Donovan has scored in each of the last 4 games for the Galaxy, netting 5 in total over that stretch. He scored 2 goals and added an assist in a 3-0 win against Portland last month, to start his run of good form. He followed that up with the only goal in the Galaxy’s 2-1 loss to FC Dallas on May 1st.
Then last week, in the biggest MLS match of the year so far, he scored the goal that allowed the Galaxy to draw with the NY Red Bulls in a 1-1 tie. And again last night, he scored the only Galaxy goal in another 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union.
Donovan’s total stats so far this season are 5 goals and 1 assist in 7 games. He also stands 2nd in the MLS in scoring, 1 goal behind DC United’s Charlie Davies. With the first game of the Gold Cup against Canada only three and a half weeks away, now is the time for Donovan and his fellow American internationals to start playing their best soccer.
Granted, even with Donovan not at his best, we could still beat Canada, Panama, and Guadeloupe. But as the tournament progresses, and we start to see teams like Honduras, Costa Rica, and Mexico, the games will only get tougher and we’ll need all of our stars to play at the highest level.
USA coach Bob Bradley is expected to select his Gold Cup side within the next two weeks. With bragging rights and a CONCACAF championship on the line, as well as a chance to play in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil, Bradley is figured to choose the strongest US side possible.
As if the 5-0 thrashing in the 2009 Gold Cup Final wasn’t enough motivation….
