Sporting KC settles for 2-2 draw with Galaxy after Donovan's late goal
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Landon Donovan scored his first goal since coming out of retirement two minutes after entering as a second-half substitute, and the Los Angeles Galaxy tied Sporting KC 2-2 on Sunday.
Donovan and the Galaxy announced his return on Thursday, ending a 21-month retirement to at least play the rest of this season.
In his first game back, Donovan came on in the 74th minute and scored with his left foot after a give-and-go with Robbie Rogers.
The 34-year-old Donovan is widely considered the most accomplished player in American soccer history and the most successful player in the history of the MLS, which named its MVP award after him.
Los Angeles (11-4-15) moved into second place in the Western Conference standings -- four points behind FC Dallas. Sporting KC (11-12-7) is five points ahead of Seattle for the sixth and final playoff spot.
Alan Gordon scored his second goal in two games in the seventh minute to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. Emmanuel Boateng chased down a ball at the edge of the 18-yard box and chipped a cross in front of goal to find Gordon's head.
Jacob Peterson tied it at 1-all in the 50th when he headed home Dominic Dwyer's cross. It was Peterson's fifth straight home game with a goal. Dwyer made it 2-1 in the 69th. Benny Feilhaber quickly played a free kick, Saad Abdul-Salaam was first to the through ball in the 18-yard box and Dwyer touched home a cross.
Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia returned to the starting lineup after missing the last six games due to a back injury.
