MOTD: USMNT 1-1 Ecuador – Three Thoughts

By on October 10, 2014

Prior to the match, Landon Donovan could only describe his relationship with the US Mens National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the man who denied him of playing in a fourth World Cup this summer, in two words: “You know”. This could not have been a more obvious reference to that day this summer in which he was excluded from the US’ 23 man roster at the final stages and its implications are still fresh in his mind. Donovan has not hid anything about his relationship with Klinsmann. He has admitted he might not have been here tonight playing in his final send-off game for the US if he had played at the World Cup this summer, but tonight minds were cast back to the 157 games, national record breaking 57 goals and 58 assists before last summer. Tonight was for Donovan, not Klinsmann, and it could not have been more clear how awkward even being their must have been for the German coach. It was only last happy reminder of not what could have been, but of the incredible game-changing for the nation international career Donovan has had over the past fourteen years. Donovan admitted he had his doubts about getting back into that dugout with Klinsmann but it could not have been more clear that he made the right decision in doing so and sharing the moment with the fans.

It was certainly emotional to say the least. If your eyes were still dry it was hard not to feel goosebumps seeing Donovan play in a US jersey one last time. It was almost as if everybody around him set up for it. Mix Diskerud, while playing well alongside Alejandro Bedoya in the middle, as well as Josy Altidore played it to Donovan as often as possible – lobbing it up to him right before he was taken off. Donovan had multiple chances in the time he was on. Just five minutes in, he was indirectly involved in Diskerud’s opening goal. The thirty-two-year-old sent a far post cross into the box, and while Altidore failed to convert it the ball was squared to Diskerud who curled a first-time effort past Maximo Banguera to the goalkeepers left.

Donovan would not, however, have a fairy-tale send off. Twenty-five minutes in the LA Galaxy player latched onto a brilliant Altidore back-heel pass, down the left side of the box, only to see his low toe-poked effort bounce off the base of the right-hand post. He came close again soon after, but could not find the back of the net before he was taken off. That, though, will not be able to define Donovan’s send-off – he is already an American legend and was absolutely respected as one.

Brad Guzan made two key saves to keep the US in the game, one with his chest as Ecuador broke and another to tip wide a free-kick. The only sad moment game late on when a Enner Valencia saw his thirty yard Hail Mary take a wicked deflection and beat Guzan. Ultimately it was a unwanted result, but was overshadowed and overwhelmed by Donovan’s send off. In some way, the match was a sub-plot.
Man of the Match: (Landon Donovan deserves one last one for the USMNT, but it has to go to…) Mix Diskerud

There was one awkward moment.
For the most part Klinsmann retreated to the bench while Donovan saw out the forty-one minutes he played in his send-off match, acknowledged the situation and that him imposing himself on the match would be insensitive. He even perhaps showed a tiny gesture to the US legend by waiting eleven minutes after Donovan was scheduled to come off to make the substitute. However, when Donovan walked off the pitch there was an awkward bro-hug between the manager and player in which he had to acknowledge Klinsmann’s presence there, but the 36,265 fans in Hartford giving him a standing ovation and chanting “Thank-you, Lan-don!” had to have offset the moment for Donovan.

Donovan seems absolutely self-aware and happy with his decision.
For now, at least, Donovan seems to have his mind made up about his retirement not just from the national team but from the game altogether. Speaking to ESPN, Donovan has said that anything can happen down the line, but right now, at this moment his mind is set up that he is perfectly at home with his decision to retire. Regrets? Sure, Donovan may regret the way some things have went particularly last summer – he told ESPN that nobody lives perfectly – but his decision? It seems not. Donovan sure night have been overwhelmed with emotion, but was as sure in his decision that he went on to sit in at the sideline ESPN booth for an interview immediately after the match, and joke during the post-game press conferences, when asked what Klinsmann had said to him after the match, was the German said he should have brought Donovan to Brazil. After taking a 3 month sabbatical mid-season a few years back it certainly seems given the circumstances he comes willing.

One door closes and another opens.
Donovan left his international career behind tonight, and it undoubtedly brings the end to an era which marked the trail for the next generations of US Soccer to come. Donovan has set the bar for many Americans to come, and at the same time as he walked off the pitch Diskerud, Bedoya, DeAndre Yedlin and more shined. The next touch bearers and cover boys for the US nations team and this time they may reach places even Donovan couldn’t – currently, all three are tied to European clubs.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.