LA Galaxy draw Sporting Kansas City 2-2

Landon Donovan came off the bench and made an instant impact, scoring in the 77th minute as the LA Galaxy and Sporting KC drew 2-2 Sunday afternoon before a national television audience.

Giovani dos Santos was on the bench after suffering a knock in training while Robbie Keane joined Alan Gordon up top.

SKC started off brightly and created several chances, the best off a Matt Besler throw-in that sailed to Jacob Peterson but the forward headed over.

Then, LA would open the scoring against the run of play. Sebastian Lletget skillfully located Emmanuel Boateng on the wing, and with Alan Gordon signaling at the far post, Boateng floated a perfect ball to the far post for Gordo to nod past Tim Melia.

SKC almost came right back right away when a Benny Feilhaber long ball got behind Jelle Van Damme and Dwyer had an open breakaway, but Rowe quickly closed off the angle and Dwyer subsequently bent his shot over the bar.

Not too long later, Benny Feilhaber had all the time in the world to shoot from point-blank range, but with his low shot beating Brian Rowe, Jelle Van Damme’s instinctive sliding challenge saved a sure goal for LA.

The Galaxy were ahead but struggling in the heat vs. a fitter Sporting Kansas City side, and it was no surprise when Peterson beat Robbie Rogers to the far post to equalize for SKC.

Then in the 69th minute, Benny Feilhaber would take advantage of an asleep Galaxy defense to play a short restart to Saleem Adbul-Salaam, and Dom Dywer poked home the cross to put Sporting ahead.

Truth be told, the Galaxy looked dead until Landon Donovan was subbed in the match, and minutes later, a neat bit of combination play with Robbie Rogers ended with Donovan coolly sliding a left footed finish past Melia to steal a point for LA.