Landon Donovan comes out of retirement and rejoins the Galaxy

Landon Donovan is back.

After a brief retirement, Donovan, 34, is returning to the Galaxy, the move was confirmed Thursday after. The Galaxy released a video of Donovan putting on a No. 26 jersey.

When Donovan announced he was retiring two years ago, it sent shockwaves through the soccer world, especially after the season he had.

Donovan, who was born in Ontario and grew up in Redlands, scored 10 goals with 19 assists in 2014, leading the Galaxy to the MLS Cup.

Since his retirement, Donovan has spent time as an analyst for Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Fox Sports. He’s also re-married and had a baby boy (Talon). Donovan has also stepped into ownership, becoming a part-owner of Swansea City of the English Premier League.

In a Facebook statement, Donovan explained his reason of returning, the first thoughts hit him while working the Galaxy game against Vancouver, Aug. 27.

“Since my retirement, I have remained in close contact with many of the staff and players on the Galaxy. I spoke with some of them that week (against Vancouver) and they jokingly asked if I was ready to make a return to the field to help fill some of the void left by the injuries and departures. I reminded them that I haven’t played a meaningful soccer game in almost two years and I certainly couldn’t fill the holes left by those players.”

Donovan will train with the Galaxy Friday.

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Wild night at Rio Tinto leaves Galaxy with missed opportunity

The Galaxy were close to getting out of town with a full three points Wednesday night, before Juan Manuel Martinez scored in the 94th minute to give Real Salt Lake a share of the points in a 3-3 draw.

The Galaxy led 3-1 after the 64th minute. Giovani dos Santos broke a 1-1 tie with a goal in the 57th and 64th minute. RSL got closer on Joao Plata’s goal in the 67th minute and then Martinez added his for the draw.

The Galaxy is now tied with RSL for second place with 44 points heading to this weekend’s games.

Here are the goals from dos Santos that had the Galaxy thinking a road victory was well within its grasp

goal No. 1

and goal No. 2

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Galaxy preview: Galaxy faces Real Salt Lake in key showdown

The Galaxy snapped its six-game winless streak with its 2-1 victory over Columbus galaxy1Crew SC, Saturday. Now, on a short turnaround, Bruce Arena and company are in Utah to face Real Salt Lake (TWCS; 6:30 p.m.)

Both teams and Colorado are tied for second on 43 points in the Western Conference.

The teams met earlier this season with the Galaxy winning 5-2.

RSL, Galaxy and Colorado are eight points behind leader FC Dallas. The Galaxy returns home Sunday to take on Orlando City SC, while FC Dallas takes on Colorado on Saturday.

Things are getting interesting in the Western Conference.

Game day preview: Bruce Arena focused on RSL; not No. 200

 

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Forbes ranks Galaxy as second most valuable MLS franchise

Forbes announced franchise valuations for Major League Soccer Wednesday. According to the report, the Galaxy is valued at $265 million, second to the Seattle Sounders ($285 million).

The report also stated that the Galaxy has the highest revenue from 2015 with $58 million.

Here is the complete top 10:1. Seattle $285 million; 2. Galaxy $265 million; 3. New York City FC $255 million; 4. Toronto FC $245 million; 5. Orlando City FC $240 million; 6. Houston $215 million; 7. Portland $210 million; 8. Sporting Kansas City $195 million; 9. New England $185 million; 10. San Jose $180

Forbes’  valuation estimates are based on multiples of revenue, as well as projections of future growth for the league. According to the report, the average MLS team is worth $185 million, up 18 percent from last year and 80 percent from 2013.

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MLS Cup ready for prime time and USMNT faces Trinidad & Tobago at 5 p.m. on Fox Sports 1 with World Cup place at stake

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UCLA men’s soccer routs top-ranked Akron

Ninth-ranked UCLA (2-1-1) men’s soccer team rolled to a 6-1 victory over top-ranked Akron (2-2), Monday night.

The Bruins also set an NCAA record with three goals in a 32-second span.

Junior forward Abu Danladi scored two goals in 11 seconds and sophomore midfielder Jackson Yueill had four assists, tying a school-record.

Brian Iloski, Seyi Adekova, Blayne Martinez  and Jose Hernandez scored the other goals for the Bruins.

UCLA scored 2-0 at halftime.

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Raul Mendiola draws praise from Bruce Arena after first start

Raul Mendiola was a surprise starter for some in Saturday’s Galaxy-Columbus Crew SC game.

Mendiola was signed as  Homegrown Player in 2014. He made three appearances for first team in 2014, spent all of 2015 with Galaxy II and Saturday night he made his debut in the starting lineup in the Galaxy 2-1 victory.

Photo courtesy of LA Galaxy

Photo courtesy of LA Galaxy

“When I’m on the field, I’m going to work for my teammates,” Mendiola said. “Whatever I got to do. If you have to run back and that’s my mentality to work hard. I was really excited. i wanted to go out there and show what I could to do.”

Mendiola went 80 minutes, before being subbed for Rafael Garcia.

“He’s the kind of player that when you pick sides you’d like to take him because he’s going to battle for you,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. Saturday night. “He’s going to play through the good and bad throughout the game. He’s a real competitor and I like that.

“I decided to play him tonight because I felt we just needed a little bit more energy on the field, a little bit more competitiveness. He brings that. He’s an honest player, can play on both sides of the ball.”

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Galaxy preview: Galaxy hopes to get back on track in September

After a dismal August that the club go winless, the Galaxy hope to kick off September with a coveted and much-needed three points with Columbus Crew SC in town tonight (7:30 p.m.; Time Warner Cable Sports Net).Galaxy-

Columbus is in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The Galaxy is in fifth in the Western Conference. Both teams are missing several players due to either international duty or injuries.

Who knows what tonight holds in store. See you there.

Game day links:

Nigel de Jong completes move to Turkey

Injury bug hits Galaxy this week

Struggling Galaxy near must-win mode tonight

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100 Percent Soccer column: U.S. Soccer fans kick back for tropical World Cup qualifying feast this Labor Day weekend

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Read this week’s 100 Percent Soccer column here.

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