LA Galaxy

After missing two matches due to an Achilles tendon problem, Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to action on Sunday and scored a brace of penalties in the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers at Dignity Health Sports Park.

But the highlight of the night might’ve been an early attempt from Ibrahimovic that struck the base of the post. Using his right leg like the taekwondo expert he is, the 37-year-old flicked this effort on frame in the 14th minute only to be denied by the woodwork.  

A big storyline from Major League Soccer’s opening weekend was the debut of 16-year-old LA Galaxy phenom Efrain Alvarez. The Los Angeles native was an academy product before becoming a revelation in the USL last year, scoring 12 goals and adding three assists in 17 appearances for the club’s reserve team, LA Galaxy II. 

Back on Jan. 23, it was revealed that Landon Donovan would again come out retirement to play professional soccer, this time for the San Diego Sockers of the Major Arena Soccer League. The 36-year-old will make $250,000 during his stay, and fans got their first look at the American legend on Friday.

The LA Galaxy unveiled its away jersey for the 2019 MLS season on Sunday night at an event in downtown LA, where thousands of Galaxy fans turned out to see the latest threads and Zlatan Ibrahimović.

After missing the playoffs for the second straight campaign in 2018, there’s cautious optimism for the Galaxy in 2019 with Zlatan announcing his return to go along with the appointment of former Boca Juniors boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto as manager.

Ashley Cole has completed another first in his 20-year career: his first FA Cup goal.

The 38-year-old recently signed for Frank Lampard’s Derby County from MLS and made his debut in it’s fifth-round FA Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion.

After going down 2-0 to the host, Derby County pressed for a response in the second half. After a ball over the top caused a scramble in the box, a poor clearance by Daniel Burn fell kindly to Cole’s head.

The recent big-money sales of players like Matt Miazga, Alphonso Davies and Miguel Almiron are no flash in the pan for Major League Soccer — this is now the trend rather than the exception. With the league’s top academies now producing talent fit for first-team minutes — as well as the shift toward buying young foreign talent with an eye toward developing and selling them on for a larger fee — expect to see MLS clubs make even more noise in the transfer market over the coming years.

He’s one of the most iconic players in the history of the USMNT. And he just can’t quit soccer. 

Landon Donovan, having come out of retirement twice before, once again has failed to stay retired. According to Sports Illustrated, Donovan will return to the pitch to play with the San Diego Sockers of the Major Arena Soccer League.

Club León this is not. 

In the history of U.S. Soccer, no one has scored more goals and tallied more assists for the USMNT and MLS than Landon Donovan. He’s kind of a big deal.