Landon Donovan offered a stylish response to his World Cup snub on Sunday, becoming Major League Soccer’s all-time leading scorer in the LA Galaxy’s 4-1 win over Philadelphia.
The 32-year-old scored twice, seizing the MLS scoring record with his 135th career goal with his first strike of the night, four minutes into the second half.
Donovan launched the move with a pass to Galaxy teammate Robbie Keane in the box. The Irishman squared across the face of goal for the onrushing Donovan, who was left with a tap-in for his first goal of the season.
It came days after US coach Jurgen Klinsmann left Donovan off his final 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Brazil.
“It’s been an emotional three days,” Donovan told a television interviewer after the game. “A lot of down and a lot of up honestly.
“The love I’ve received from everybody here, including when I walked out for warm-ups with signs and people staying stuff, has been amazing. And I’m really happy it ended this way for this week.”
Donovan, a veteran of three World Cups, is already the all-time USA scoring leader with 57 international goals.
