Landon Donovan signaled his return to the U.S. National Team with a bang on Friday.
Playing in his first match for the U.S. since last August, Donovan scored the 50thand 51st goals of his international career in the Americans’ 6-0 victory over Guatemala at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium. The goals were Donovan’s first with the national team since scoring a hat-trick against Scotland in May of 2012.
The U.S. dominated the young Guatemalan team from start to finish in front of a crowd of 25,080 in San Diego.
Jurgen Klinsmann's squad was up 1-0 at the half off a goal by former LA Galaxy forward Herculez Gomez in the 42nd minute, but once the second half began, Donovan truly got going. The Galaxy midfielder became the first American male to score 50 international goals in the 55th minute when he drew a penalty and then converted to put the U.S. up two. Donovan bagged his second of the night and 51st internationally in the 73rd minute when he expertly finished a well-placed cross by Stuart Holden cross. Sandwiched in-between those Donovan finishes, the Galaxy midfielder played the role of distributor as he helped set up Chris Wondolowski's first international goal in the 71st minute.
Donovan exited the match in the 77th minute, but the U.S. did not take their foot off the gas as they rattled off two more goals from Clarence Goodson and Alejandro Bedoya to seal a 6-0 victory.
The U.S. begins their 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign on June 9 against Belize at JELD-WEN Field.
Video of Donovan's goals are below...
Goal One:
Goal Two:
