Orlando

Landon Donovan makes his MLS comeback in Galaxy win

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:40 p.m. ET

foxsports

Landon Donovan’s return to soccer is now real.

The American soccer legend made his comeback for the LA Galaxy on Sunday almost two years after having announced his retirement.

The Galaxy had a cushy 4-1 lead over Orlando City SC – a team that wasn’t even in MLS the last time Donovan played – when Donovan entered the match in the 83rd minute. The crowd gave him a rousing ovation as Landon's wife Hannah Bartell and their son Talon watched on from the stands.

Welcome back, Landon. https://t.co/Zjbidi0Ddg
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 12, 2016

It wasn’t the most eventful few minutes for Donovan though, who didn’t see much of the ball. Brek Shea pulled back a late goal for Orlando to close out the match with a 4-2 scoreline.

Giovani Dos Santos – who now wears Donovan’s former No. 10 and never played with Donovan before the 34-year-old retired at the end of 2014 – led the way with two goals and an assist on Sunday.

“It was like in a dream,” dos Santos told FOX Sports after the match. “It's an honor to play with one of the greatest and I think he's going to be better than this game and we're happy to have him back.”

Donovan has said returning to the pitch was not something he thought about since stepping away after the LA Galaxy won the MLS Cup in 2014, but he considered it when the Galaxy squad was looking thin after slew of injuries to Gyasi Zardes, Steven Gerrard and Jelle van Damme, plus the departure of Nigel de Jong.

Donovan still holds the MLS career records for goals (144), assists (136) and playoff goals (25) – and he might be able to notch some more stats soon.

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