SEATTLE -- Surely Landon Donovan is now just 90 minutes away from tying up just about every loose end remaining in his Major League Soccer career. He is the player of the decade, but before Thursday never had been named player of the year. Perhaps a victim of his own consistency, Donovan raised the bar in 2009. He brought his fractured team together and captained the club to first place in the Western Conference, tallying 12 goals and six assists.
It is slightly ironic, however, that Donovan was not here in Seattle to accept the award. The Galaxy were not scheduled to arrive until later in the day, meaning the player who has been the real face of American soccer for the past nine years was unavailable to smile for the cameras. It is something the league may have to get used to. Rumors of a winter transfer have been circulating for months, and if Los Angeles completes its climb from the basement to the MLS Cup penthouse on Sunday, Donovan certainly has nothing left to prove.
To call 2009 a busy year for the U.S. national team would be an understatement. Even labeling it a marathon wouldn't be quite right. An ultra-marathon might make more sense.
Bob Bradley's team has participated in two tournaments -- the Confederations Cup and Gold Cup -- along with the final round of CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualification. All told the U.S. has already played 22 matches -- going 13-6-3 -- on two different continents.
The grueling year winds down with a trip to a third continent -- Europe -- when the U.S. places fellow 2010 World Cup qualifier Slovakia in Bratislava. (10 a.m., Fox Soccer)
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (AP) -- The U.S. soccer team is headed to South Africa for a chance to redeem itself in the World Cup.
Conor Casey scored his first two international goals in the second half, Landon Donovan added another and the United States clinched its sixth straight World Cup berth with a game to spare by rallying past Honduras 3-2 Saturday night.
With Saturday's soccer spotlight shining on Rosario, Copenhagen, Budapest, Basel, Bratislava and even San Jose, Costa Rica, the U.S. national team is faced with a flattering yet potentially problematic scenario -- playing a World Cup qualifier that will be big news only if it loses.
Without a home qualifying loss to anyone since 2001 and boasting a 10-0-2 all-time record (with five straight shutouts) against El Salvador on U.S. soil, the Americans (3-2-1) would appear to have little to fear from the Cuscatlecos (1-3-2) at Rio Tinto Stadium outside Salt Lake City (ESPN Classic, 8 p.m. ET). But injuries and suspensions are a factor, and the tightening CONCACAF standings give the hosts no room for error.
In the world's best soccer rivalries, the opposing clubs usually represent something greater than the pursuit of wins and trophies. Whether its socio-economics, politics, religion or geography, the antagonists have roots that transcend the sport and appeal to a certain cohort of fans whose allegiance is dependent on more than just game results and marketing.
The only U.S. rivalries that even begin to approach that sort of dynamic are those between certain universities. Perhaps, stereotypically, one sort of person roots for Michigan while another supports Michigan State. But these are pale comparisons. The truth is that soccer often thrives on those sorts of conflicts, and the sport in this country has yet to develop them. There are several factors -- our pro franchises tend to have inclusive fanbases, the sport is still developing here and the size of the country makes frequent fan interaction nearly impossible.
Except for Los Angeles, where on Saturday night, the biggest game in the short history of Major League Soccer's only real rivalry will be played.
He's dealing with a divorce and a highly-publicized conflict with teammate David Beckham, along with the stress and strain of international competition. Yet Landon Donovan is playing perhaps the best soccer of his career. How can this be? FanHouse speaks with Donovan's teammates, coaches and the man himself to figure out what's changed.
File this under the worst week ever for U.S. soccer's all-time leading goal scorer Landon Donovan. As if losing to Mexico 2-1 on Wednesday wasn't bad enough, Thursday night Donovan told Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl that he tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus.
Donovan told Wahl that he felt ill before the U.S. team arrived in Mexico City for its CONCACAF World Cup qualifier on Wednesday and most likely contracted the virus in the United States. Still, he soldiered through the sickness and played all 90 minutes in the altitude and heat of Azteca Stadium, sending the through ball that set up Charlie Davies ninth minute goal which gave the U.S. a brief 1-0 lead.
MEXICO CITY -- When Miguel Sabah scored his game-winning goal in the 82nd minute, or the 83rd, or the 84th -- nobody was really quite sure -- it rained beer at Estadio Azteca. The suds were accompanied by thunder, a roar from more than 100,000 delirous fans, two of whom turned toward the American press sitting a few rows behind them and screamed obscenities. The one with the hair gel and popped green collar made exaggerated typing gestures, while his classy friend with the face paint simply flipped us the bird.
Welcome to the world's most inhospitable stadium, which proved too much for the media, the Panamanian referee and the U.S. national team (again) in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier. "It's hard to play here," Landon Donovan said. "It wears you out. It's just exhausting."
SEATTLE -- Surely Landon Donovan is now just 90 minutes away from tying up just about every loose end remaining in his Major League Soccer career. He is the player of the decade, but before Thursday never had been named player of the year. Perhaps a victim of his own consistency, Donovan raised the bar in 2009. He brought his fractured team together and captained the club to first place in the Western Conference, tallying 12 goals and six assists..jpg)
To call 2009 a busy year for the U.S. national team would be an understatement. Even labeling it a marathon wouldn't be quite right. An ultra-marathon might make more sense. 
LOS ANGELES (AP) - 
With Saturday's soccer spotlight shining on Rosario, Copenhagen, Budapest, Basel, Bratislava and even San Jose, Costa Rica, the 
In the world's best soccer rivalries, the opposing clubs usually represent something greater than the pursuit of wins and trophies. Whether its socio-economics, politics, religion or geography, the antagonists have roots that transcend the sport and appeal to a certain cohort of fans whose allegiance is dependent on more than just game results and marketing.
.jpg)
File this under the worst week ever for U.S. soccer's all-time leading goal scorer 
MEXICO CITY -- When Miguel Sabah scored his game-winning goal in the 82nd minute, or the 83rd, or the 84th -- nobody was really quite sure -- it rained beer at Estadio Azteca. The suds were accompanied by thunder, a roar from more than 100,000 delirous fans, two of whom turned toward the American press sitting a few rows behind them and screamed obscenities. The one with the hair gel and popped green collar made exaggerated typing gestures, while his classy friend with the face paint simply flipped us the bird.
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Substitute Miguel Sabah scored in the 82nd minute for Mexico to beat the United States 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.
