CARSON, Calif. – What should have been a special night turned into a thoroughly forgettable one for the LA Galaxy’s Todd Dunivant.
The 34-year-old defender was at StubHub Center on Sunday for the final regular-season home game of his 13-year MLS career. The popular veteran, who recently announced his retirement and has made just three appearances this year because of various injuries, was quietly confident he would get some playing time. But the Portland Timbers unfortunately ruined that possibility in a shock 5-2 shellacking in front of a sellout crowd of 27,000.
“It’s difficult to think about anything personal at this point when you have a loss like that,” he said quietly in a somber post-game locker room. “We knew it was a big night for us.”
It also was a big night for Dunivant. His wife, Caroline, and daughter Lula were on hand for a pregame ceremony that also included his sister Heather, her husband Brian and their three children. Dunivant even addressed the crowd before the kickoff.
“Thank you for allowing me to play for the best team and in front of the best fans in the league,” he told an appreciative audience.
Dunivant, who is undecided about his future plans, said the pregame activities were special, to say the least.
“It’s not something you get a chance to do very often,” he said. “For the Galaxy to do that for me meant a lot. It’s something I’ll cherish.
“To be able to address the fans that are always there, you don’t often get a chance to do that. It was a great moment for me.”
Dunivant said he was prepared for some playing time against the Timbers – he hasn’t made an appearance since July 17 against San Jose – but he will make the trip to Guatemala for Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League game against CSD Comunicaciones and is hopeful of getting some minutes.
Then it’s on to Kansas City next Sunday for the regular-season finale against Sporting KC.
Sunday wasn’t exactly the end – there are the upcoming MLS Cup playoffs, after all – but Dunivant knows it’s getting closer.
“Today was a little odd because the playoffs are coming and you know there’s going to be more,” he said. “It’s hard to get too emotional because there’s more on the horizon. It’s one of those things where you try not to think too much about the finality of it because there’s more ahead.”
Dunivant said he isn’t dreading the day when he does officially call it a career.
“I was for about 12 years,” he said with a laugh, “and I’ve sort of gotten over that. The time is right for me and I have no regrets. It’s never easy to stop but you have to stop at some point.
“It was always going to end with me being dragged out of here, standing on one leg. I love this game too much.”
