CARSON, Calif. – Landon Donovan recognizes the importance of the occasion, and he plans to enjoy it. But his final MLS match at StubHub Center – final regular-season match, that is – is about something much bigger than his farewell.
Donovan, who is retiring at season's end, and the Galaxy need at least four points from the end-of-season, home-and-home series with Seattle to vault past the Sounders and win the Supporters' Shield and Western Conference title, and success likely requires a full three points in Sunday's showdown on their home ground (8:30 pm ET; ESPN2).
Donovan, who will be honored before the game, hopes to absorb the emotion surrounding the “final” appearance when it's all over.
“Last week [and the final appearance for the US national team] was pretty emotional. I expect this week will probably be the same,” Donovan said following Wednesday morning's training session at StubHub. “The fortunate thing about this week is there will be another home game [during the playoffs], so this isn't necessarily the end.
“I'll hopefully get a little bit of time after the game to appreciate it all. It's going to be hard for me to do that before the game because I'm pretty excited about a big opportunity on Sunday. So after the game we'll, hopefully, take it all in, but up ‘til then, it's business.”
Donovan could have another three home games to play – only the Nov. 9 second leg of the Western Conference semifinals against Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas, Vancouver Whitecaps or Portland Timbers is certain – with the last possible date being the MLS Cup title game on Dec. 7. The fight to reach the final is what's driving him.
“I want the last game to be here first week of December, playing for a championship, and so that's my sole focus,” he said. “If we get some weeks into November, and it ends up being the last game [without reaching the final], then so be it, and I'll deal with it at that time. But my sole focus and intention is to be playing here the first week of December and getting ready to raise a trophy.”
The aim, he agreed, is to postpone retirement as long as possible.
“I mean, you don't get any more chances [to win a championship],” he said, “so I want to make sure I make every game feel like the last. And if I do that, I think we'll be playing in December.”
The Galaxy must secure at least a point Sunday to make the Oct. 25 regular-season closer in Seattle meaningful, and LA will need some sort of result there – just a draw if they win this weekend – to capture the top spot.
“I think it's just going to be a great series,” Donovan said. “I think there's not many people that would doubt that these are the best two teams in the league. We've both proven it over the year, and there's going to be a lot that goes into these games.
“Depending on the first result, the second game will be either important or not. But our intention is we're playing at home, this is a game that gives us a chance to win the Supporters' Shield with another result, so we're putting everything into it, and it's going to be, I expect, a really good game.”
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Donovan has spent most of his career at StubHub, formerly the Home Depot Center, which opened in June 2003. Donovan joined the Galaxy just before the 2005 season kicked off, and he's helped them win MLS Cup championships in 2005, ‘11 and ‘12 and Supporters' Shields in ‘10 and ‘11.
All of the Galaxy's operations, including their training field just southeast of the main stadium, are on the StubHub campus.
“It's a little unusual because we're here every day, so this has been as much a home to me as anywhere. Probably more so,” Donovan said. “I've moved around a lot in 10 years, but I've always come back here every day.
“This place is special. It certainly won't be the last times I'm ever here – I'll be here a lot in the future – but as a player, training or playing, I'm going to miss it, for sure.”
