The most decorated player in American soccer history is heading back to Children’s Mercy Park.
Landon Donovan shocked Major League Soccer last week, coming out of retirement to join the LA Galaxy for the remainder of the season. The 34-year-old made a seven-minute cameo in his team’s weekend win over Orlando City SC, and now he’s bound for Kansas City.
Sporting Kansas City welcomes the LA Galaxy on Sunday in a 1 p.m. CT kickoff on FOX. The marquee matchup carries serious implications in the Western Conference playoff race, and Donovan’s return adds even greater excitement to the spectacle.
To mark the occasion, we take a stroll down memory late by revisiting 10 standout matches that pitted Donovan against Kansas City. Think we’ve missed one? Have a special Landon Donovan memory of your own? Give us your feedback in the comment section below.
1. Kansas City 0, SJ Earthquakes 0 — April 28, 2001
Donovan was 19 years old when he earned his first career MLS start in April 2001 at Arrowhead Stadium. The game itself wasn’t much to behold, but the night remains historic as Donovan made the very first of his 354 MLS starts to date (including postseason). He would face Kansas City 31 more times in MLS competition over the next 14 years (including playoffs).
2. SJ Earthquakes 4, Kansas City 1 — Sept. 20, 2003
Donovan’s first career MLS hat-trick came at Kansas City’s expense. A crowd of 30,308 at Arrowhead Stadium witnessed the Earthquakes’ No. 10 put on a show, drawing first blood in the 26th minute before netting the final two goals of the night in the 70th and 93rd minutes. The result gave San Jose a 17-point cushion over KC in the standings, but Bob Gansler’s side would regain its form ahead of a postseason rematch two months later.
3. SJ Earthquakes 3, Kansas City 2 — Nov. 15, 2003
The 2003 Western Conference Championship was an instant classic. The visiting Wizards twice took the lead through Igor Simutenkov and Chris Klein, only for San Jose to punch back with goals from Manny Lagos and Brian Mullan. Penalty kicks loomed as the sides remained level deep into extra time, but Donovan’s golden goal in the 117th minute broke Kansas City hearts. Donovan would land MLS Cup MVP honors the following weekend, scoring twice as San Jose won its second title in three years.
4. SJ Earthquakes 2, Kansas City 0 — Aug. 14, 2004
Donovan scored in either half to give San Jose all three points at Arrowhead Stadium, ending a torrid stretch that saw his score six goals across three consecutive appearances at the venue. His postseason visit to Arrowhead more than two months later unfolded rather differently — to the delight of Kansas City fans.
5. Kansas City 3, SJ Earthquakes 0 — Oct. 30, 2004
In Donovan’s last game as a member of the Earthquakes, Kansas City pulled off its best postseason comeback in club history. Trailing San Jose 2-0 on aggregate heading into the decisive second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City staged a furious rally to win 3-0 — the third goal coming from Jack Jewsbury in second-half stoppage time. Donovan would join San Jose’s in-state rival the following year.
6. LA Galaxy 3, Kansas City 1 — May 24, 2008
Claudio Lopez gave Kansas City a 1-0 lead at halftime before Donovan restored parity shortly after the restart. Edson Buddle then fired the hosts ahead, causing KC to commit men forward in search of an equalizer. In the 94th minute, Kevin Hartman ventured out of his goal to give Kansas City an extra man on a set piece. LA cleared their lines and David Beckham scored from 70 yards out to seal the result.
7. Kansas City 2, LA Galaxy 0 — Aug. 28, 2010
The Galaxy would cruise to the MLS Supporters’ Shield title in 2010, but not before suffering a 2-0 home loss to Kansas City in late August. Entering the match 20 points behind LA in the league standings, KC received an early goal from Davy Arnaud and a late sealer from Jimmy Conrad while limiting the hosts to three shots on goal. This remains Sporting KC’s most recent road win at LA.
8. Sporting KC 2, LA Galaxy 2 — Sept. 5, 2011
Donovan was limited to a second-half substitute role in his first appearance at Children’s Mercy Park on a gorgeous Labor Day afternoon in 2011. The
— a delicately poised affair between two teams in great late-season form. Sean Franklin gave LA the lead on two separate occasions with his only MLS brace to date, but Sporting KC scored twice in the final 20 minutes to rescue a point. Julio Cesar struck in the 72nd minute before Claudio Bravo bagged a 92nd-minute penalty kick to cap a dramatic ending.
9. Sporting KC 1, LA Galaxy 0 — April 7, 2012
The current 85-game MLS sellout streak at Children’s Mercy Park began on a sunny Saturday afternoon against Donovan and the Galaxy. Kei Kamara bagged a 40th-minute winner as the hosts suffocated the defending MLS Cup champions, who managed four total shot attempts and zero shots on target.
10. Sporting KC 2, LA Galaxy 1 — July 19, 2014
Donovan’s most recent trip to Kansas City was one he’ll want to forget. Just hours after announcing that U.S. internationals Matt Besler and Graham Zusi had signed long-term contract extensions,
Sporting KC rolled to a 2-1 win
before a jam-packed crowd of 21,493 at Children’s Mercy Park. Benny Feilhaber scored a stunning free kick early and Lawrence Olum doubled the hosts’ lead on the hour mark, rendering Robbie Keane’s late strike irrelevant.
