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Landon Donovan has big Impact in Win vs. Union

LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan produced a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Union on May 15. Donovan's Match Impact Rating was in excess of 100 which should give U.S. Men's National Team coach Jürgen Klinsmann's some thoughts about his roster.

Claus Andersen

Landon Donovan and the LA Galaxy were firing on all cylinders on offense after being missing in action in the previous two matches. After managing to put just four combined shots on target in the last two losses, the Galaxy placed seven shots on target against the Philadelphia Union on May 15 and four of those shots went in the net.

Donovan had a hand in all four of the goals, although he didn't show up in the scoresheet for teeing up the corner kick that went in off of Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath's face.


Donovan did assist on Robbie Keane and Hector Jimenez' goals before scoring one of his own in the 87th minute. As a result, Donovan turned in a game-high Match Impact Rating of 109.1. I had commented during the game that Marcelo Sarvas had really improved his ability to draw foul calls this season. Sarvas had the match of his life in that regard as he suffered seven fouls while the Union only drew 12 fouls as a team. Sarvas also chipped in with an assist on Keane's goal which gave the Brazilian a MIR of 99.8.

Keane came in third with a MIR of 88.8 for a goal, an assist and two fouls drawn. Jimenez only played 18 minutes so his MIR of 177.5 is not a realistic depiction of how he might have performed had he gone the full 90 minutes. However, the midfielder does have a goal and an assist in his last four appearances (196 total minutes). On the opposite end of the spectrum is Mike Magee who turned in a MIR of -0.5 for committing two fouls and putting both of his shots off target. Magee, who has not placed a shot on net in any of the last three matches, could unthinkably be headed for a slump despite sitting in a tie for second place in MLS with six goals.

Milestone Watch: Donovan is just one assist away from tying Preki (112) for third-most all-time in MLS.