Galaxy's Donovan wins Player of the Month
Los Angeles forward led squad to undefeated July to earn award for fourth time
In the Galaxy's Week 18 match against the New York Red Bulls, Donovan tallied a goal and an assist in his club's 3-1 road victory. Donovan followed up a third minute goal by Galaxy forward Alecko Eskandarian, with a strike of his own in the 31st minute (
WATCH). After a David Beckham corner had been cleared by the Red Bull defense, the ball bounced out to Donovan and he blasted a 25-yard volley that dipped over the head of New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero and into the top right corner of the goal. Just before the half Donovan collected an Edson Buddle header, dribbled into space on the right side and sent a precise cross across the penalty area to Eddie Lewis who volleyed the ball with his left foot past Cepero for the third goal of the first half ( WATCH).
In Week 19, after a Claudio Lopez goal put the Galaxy down 1-0, Donovan rallied the squad with a goal in the 33rd minute to earn a 1-1 tie with the Kansas City Wizards ( WATCH). Donovan collected ball more than 30 yards out, dribbled at the Kansas City Wizards defense and fired a low driven shot from 20-yards past Kansas City Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. The goal was Donovan's eighth of the season and insured that the Galaxy would remain unbeaten in the month of July.
With eight goals Donovan is tied for third in the Budweiser Golden Boot race with Colorado's Conor Casey. Only Seattle Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero (9) and Columbus Crew forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto (10) have more. Donovan is on pace to replicate his 2008 season, in which he tallied 20 goals and won the Budweiser Gold Boot Award. The two goals and assist move Donovan to sixth all-time in goals scored with 92 and tenth all-time in assists with 74 in 197 career appearances in MLS.
After beginning the season 1-1-9, the nine-time MLS All-Star has led the Galaxy on an impressive stretch of games and an undefeated month of July. This is Donovan's fourth Player of the Month Award. He was first awarded Player of the Month in July 2003 and again in September of the same year when he was with the San Jose Earthquakes. He last took home the award in April of 2008. Donovan and the Galaxy are back in action when they host FC Barcelona in an international friendly on Aug. 1 at 11 p.m. ET(Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Espanol), and they next play a League game on the road Saturday, Aug. 8 versus the New England Revolution.
The Major League Soccer Player of the Month is selected following the last regular season game of each month by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership guidelines can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
2009 MLS Player of the Month Awards
March: Fredy Montero - Seattle Sounders FCApril: Brian McBride - Chicago Fire
May: Conor Casey - Colorado Rapids
June: Guillermo Barros Schelotto - Columbus Crew
July: Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
