Landon Donovan's goal wins Best Moment in Sports at ESPYs

Landon Donovan's extra-time goal that gave the U.S. soccer team a 1-0 World Cup victory over Algeria won Best Moment in Sports at the 2010 ESPYs, which were held Wednesday at the Nokia Live theatre.

The whole team went onstage to accept the award.

Others nominees in the category were the Saints' Super Bowl championship, figure skater Joannie Rochette's bronze-medal Olympic performance following the death of her mother and Phil Mickelson's win at the Masters.

"The comment I've received more than anything is 'Thank you for inspiring us and inspiring America,'" Donovan said while accepting the award. "Thank you guys for letting us inspire you." 

ESPY awards are determined by fan vote. 

"It was really great for us to see the average fan watching the World Cup," U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. "... This World Cup grabbed America's attention for us."

-- Laura Myers

Photo: Landon Donovan (10) and U.S. teammate Edson Buddle celebrate after Donovan scored against Algeria during a 1-0 victory in group play at the World Cup. Credit: Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images

Landon Donovan returns to L.A. in time for game against Seattle

Landon Donovan had his first training session with the Galaxy Friday afternoon after returning to Los Angeles on Thursday.

Donovan, who stopped in New York for a two-day media tour before rejoining the team, said he is looking forward to Sunday's game against Seattle. Because of a strained hamstring, which he played through at the end of the World Cup, he is unsure of whether he will be able to play a lot of minutes.

"I hope so," he said.

During the practice, Donovan did not participate in team scrimmages or drills. He jogged around the outside of the pitch and stretched before leaving the field about an hour before the end of the session.

Because of his role on the U.S. national team, especially his game-winning goal against Algeria, Donovan has received a lot of attention lately -- and not all of it good. However, he said living in Los Angeles prepared him for the tabloid culture.

"Fortunately, all the work I've done over the last few years has prepared me for this, and I have no issue with it," he said.

Teammate Edson Buddle was also back with the Galaxy and said the team was happy to see both of them return -- at least, he thought so.

"I don't know how they're feeling deeply inside," he said, laughing. "They were doing pretty well after we left. I know I'm happy to be here, and if they're happy to see me I'm just as happy."

-- Laura Myers

Photo: Landon Donovan responds to questions Friday. Credit: Reed Saxon, AP.

Landon Donovan keeping busy in return to U.S.

Landon Donovan's fame is not exactly new. But the Galaxy forward is surging in popularity thanks to his heroics for the U.S. national team during the 2010 World Cup — and he won't be leaving the public eye in a hurry.

According to a Galaxy news release this afternoon, Donovan will make five national  television appearances today and Wednesday  in New York before returning to Los Angeles on Friday to train with the Galaxy.

Donovan kicks off his media tour tonight on "The Late Show With David Letterman" (CBS) and will follow that with three morning shows — "Good Morning America" (ABC),"The Early Show" (CBS) and "Live With Regis and Kelly" (ABC) — before finishing up with a visit to Jon Stewart on Comedy Central's  "The Daily Show."

The release said Donovan would "also conduct a series of other interviews and appearances."

Forward Edson Buddle, who was also with the national team, will begin training with the Galaxy again  Thursday.

Both players will be available to play in the Galaxy's game against the Seattle Sounders on Sunday at the Home Depot Center.

-- Laura Myers

World Cup: U.S. vs. Algeria: Goal!!! Landon Donovan gives U.S. the win in injury time

 
The U.S. has just stunned Algeria with a goal off a fast break in injury time by Landon Donovan.

The move originated when Tim Howard hurled the ball half the length of the field to Donovan, who took off running, passed the ball off to Jozy Altidore, who passed it to Clint Dempsey. Donovan got the ball back and hammered it into the net. Goal!

The final whistle has just sounded, and the delirious U.S. players are celebrating. The second round beckons.

In Port Elizabeth, England has won but will finish second in Group C. Slovenia and Algeria are out.

For a full match report, please see http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/ in just a few minutes.

-- Grahame L. Jones in Pretoria, South Africa

Photo: Landon Donovan scores a goal against Algeria. Credit: Marcos Brindicci / Reuters.

Everton wants to keep Galaxy's Landon Donovan a while longer

Under the weather or under the gun?

The reason Galaxy and Major League Soccer standout Landon Donovan was below par in the United States' 2-1 loss to the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Wednesday might be because he was suffering the aftereffects of influenza.

Or it might be that the strain of meeting expectations in the English Premier League is finally taking its toll.

On the other hand, it just could be that Donovan, who turned 28 on Thursday, has something else on his mind. Something like figuring out how to stay with Everton and not return to the Galaxy this month as expected.

On Friday, David Moyes, Everton's coach, revealed that the club has been in contact with MLS and with the Galaxy with an eye to extending Donovan's 10-week loan spell, perhaps until the end of the English season in May or perhaps longer.

"I am keen to keep Landon and it sounds initially in America that they might say yes," Moyes told the BBC. "I have not got that confirmed yet. I can't say exactly if that's going to happen. If we can make it happen, we will."

Donovan is scheduled to play his final home game for Everton against Hull City on Sunday and the final game of his loan spell on March 13 on the road at Birmingham City. According to the Galaxy, he is expected back in Los Angeles on March 15.

But Donovan, who signed a new four-year contract with MLS in December, has played well during his time with Everton, having slotted easily into the team and contributed to its season. He has indicated that he is open to remaining in England.

Landon Donovan signs winter loan deal to Premier League

Landon Donovan’s short-term loan to Everton of the English Premier League became official today. Everton is hoping the Galaxy and U.S. national soccer team star can provide some scoring punch and speed to its lineup.

According to the loan terms, Donovan, 27, will play for Everton from January until mid-March, shortly before the Galaxy’s Major League Soccer season begins on March 27.

At Everton, Donovan will play with U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard. Everton can use all the help it can get. The soccer club is currently 15th in the standings in the 20-team league. Each year the three worst teams face "relegation," or are dropped to a lower soccer league.

Donovan "was voted best player, yet again, in the American league. I need players who can hit the ground running," said Everton manager David Moyes.

--Barry Stavro

Photo: Landon Donovan in a Galaxy game last month. Photo credit: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images.

Landon Donovan to stay four more years with Galaxy

Forward Landon Donovan, Major League Soccer’s reigning MVP after leading the L.A. Galaxy to last month’s championship game, has agreed to a four-year extension that will keep him in Los Angeles through 2013.

Financial terms of the deal were not announced, but Donovan confirmed today that the new contract calls for a significant raise from the $900,000 base salary he earned last season.

And Donovan, 27, won’t even have to show for the start of training camp to earn it. That's because Donovan has agreed in principle to spend the first 10 weeks of 2010 playing with Everton of the English Premier League.

"We think that will be a great opportunity for Landon," said Galaxy General Manager and Coach Bruce Arena. "And the agreement, there will be some stipulations."

Although terms of that deal have been worked out, according to a source who is not authorized to speak on the matter, some paperwork details are still being reviewed. The loan could be announced as early as today.

"There's a lot of factors that go into a decision like this," said Donovan, who began talking with the Galaxy about a new contract this fall. "And I did a lot of thinking about it. Obviously there's a lot of security in where I'm going to be. But I think most of all, this team in the last year has taken a dramatic turn. And I like being here. I like being part of the organization. And I want to be part of the future.

"Candidly, a year ago I wouldn't have made this decision."

Arena said the team's decision to lock up to the franchise's second-leading scorer for four years shows its commitment not only to Donovan, but also to the team, the city and its fans.

"It gives us a great deal of stability," he said. "Not only is Landon a great player for us, but he's our leader, he's our captain. And to have that as your building block is fabulous."

Donovan, the U.S. national team’s all-time leader in goals and assists, will join goalie Tim Howard, his World Cup teammate, with Everton.

This will be Donovan’s fourth try at European soccer. As a 16-year-old he signed a six-year deal with Bayern Leverkusen in Germany but didn’t play a game before returning to the U.S. in 2001. He rejoined Leverkusen four years later and started twice before coming again to join the Galaxy. And this year he made five Bundesliga appearances and played in one German Cup match while on loan to Bayern Munich.

He will join his English team Jan. 2 and will return to the Galaxy in mid-March. The Galaxy opens defense of its Western Conference title on March 27 against the New England Revolution at the Home Depot Center.

-- Kevin Baxter

Photo: Landon Donovan during the Galaxy's semi-finals playoff win last month. Photo credit: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images.

Galaxy denies that Landon Donovan transfer to England is a done deal

Landon Donovan, star of the U.S. national soccer team and L.A. Galaxy, is in talks about playing with Everton in England's Premier League on a loan deal, according to reports out of Europe today.

But the Galaxy just issued a statement saying that Everton is "one of a number of clubs who have contacted the Galaxy about the possibility of a short-term loan agreement for Landon."

Donovan, 27, is looking for an overseas winter-time loan deal similar to that of Galaxy teammate David Beckham, who is joining AC Milan in January.  Although Beckham is obviously the bigger star, he  will be 35 when the World Cup starts in June, and he's trying to stay in shape to secure a spot on England's Cup team.

However, Donovan is a mainstay on the U.S. national team and his would-be loan is more of an effort to see whether he can find a permanent spot with a European club. Donovan has played in Germany, including last winter for FC Bayern.

-- Barry Stavro

Photo: Landon Donovan fights for the ball with Spain's Sergio Ramos during the U.S.-Spain semifinals game in the Confederations Cup in South Africa in June. Credit:  Paul Thomas / Associated Press

U.S. edges Honduras to qualify for South Africa 2010 World Cup

Two second-half goals by Colorado Rapids' striker Conor Casey and another by Galaxy forward Landon Donovan tonight earned the U.S. a 3-2 victory over Honduras and a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Honduras came into the match at Estadio Olimpico undefeated and untied in World Cup qualifying with an 8-0-0 record and having outscored its opponents, 22-3.

But after Julio Deleon had given the home team the lead shortly after halftime, Casey took over, scoring twice in an eight-minute span before Donovan added a third goal four minutes later.

Honduras fought back and cut the deficit to a single goal when Deleon scored his second of the night, but a missed penalty kick by Donovan's former Galaxy teammate, Carlos Pavon, in the 87th minute ruined Honduran chances of even getting a tie.

For a full report on all of today's World Cup qualifiers, please see www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/ later this evening.

-- Grahame L. Jones

Photo: Landon Donovan (10) and Stuart Holden (background) celebrate after Donovan scored against Honduras on Saturday in a World Cup qualifying match. Credit: Claudio Cruz / Associated Press

Birchall's hamstring injury spoils several plans

There's a saying that has several variations, most commonly seen as either "Men plan and God laughs," or "Want to make God laugh? Make plans." You can careflly plan your day, your week, or your next column with all kinds of good intentions only to have outside forces swoop in and send you searching for Plan B.

Case in point: I had planned to write a column on Galaxy teammates Chris Birchall and Landon Donovan, who were going to face each other in a crucial World Cup qualifying match next Wednesday while representing Trinidad & Tobago and the U.S., respectively. I went out to a Galaxy training session last week and had enjoyable conversations with both players, who provided keen insights into each other and into what it might feel like to compete against a teammate with a World Cup berth possibly being at stake.

So much for that plan.

Birchall, who joined the Galaxy in July, strained a hamstring in the Galaxy's 1-0 victory over Chivas last Saturday and had to withdraw from consideration for the Soca Warriors' qualifying games at Honduras on Saturday and next Wednesday against the U.S. at Port of Spain, Trinidad. He hopes to return for the Galaxy's next MLS game, against FC Dallas on Sept. 12.

Bleacher Report: Is Landon Donovan ready to give European soccer another shot?

From the Bleacher Report:

"Back home everyone said I didn't have any talent. They might be saying the same thing over here but it sounds better in French." -- Jerry Mulligan, "An American In Paris"

Those lines accurately sum up Landon Donovan's professional career, at least the parts that have been spent in Europe. His critics have long said that he couldn't hack it in European football.

That might change with a move to Paris-Saint Germain.

You read that correctly. After last winter's frustrating spell with Bayern Munich, the face of the U.S. National Team reportedly is set for a move to Paris.

The former home of Ronaldinho.

Seven-time winners of the Coupe de France.

A club that missed out on the Europa League on goal differential last season.

And from a footballing standpoint, the Parc des Princes is miles above the Home Depot Center.