CARSON, Calif. -- While Landon Donovan's long goodbye had its place, LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said the team -- and Donovan himself -- must move on, especially after the Seattle Sounders came back from two goals down to tie the Galaxy 2-2 on Sunday.
"We need to start focusing on playing," Arena said post-match. "We're real pleased that the process is now complete and we're entering the last regular season game and the playoffs and hopefully we and Landon can focus on that."
The hoopla surrounding Donovan's impending retirement has been building ever since he announced his intentions back in August. The attention on Donovan was raised a notch or two on Oct. 10, when he was honored by the U.S. Soccer Federation in a friendly match against Ecuador, his last in a U.S. uniform.
With the all-time MLS goalscorer playing his last regular season home game against Seattle on Sunday, the Galaxy took it one step further. The club surprised Donovan by bringing in two of his favorite artists -- Five For Fighting and Boyz II Men -- to provide the pregame entertainment while a montage of childhood photos and video of some of his most memorable goals played on the scoreboard.
But after watching the Galaxy not only blow a lead, but cede control of the Supporters Shield race to Seattle, L.A. manager Arena was ready for his side's concentration to get completely back to on-field matters.
Arena pointed out how Donovan and Robbie Rogers failed to close down DeAndre Yedlin in the run-up to Clint Dempsey's 69th minute tally, which allowed Seattle to climb back into the match and overall he was dissatisfied with the way his side allowed a game that was seemingly under control to slip away.
"Certainly it's a disappointing ending," said Arena. "We should have done a better job of protecting a two-goal lead, no question about it."
Donovan was inclined to agree on all fronts. He said that he was "tired" at the end of the match, and admitted that the attention his retirement has gotten over the last two weeks had taken its toll.
"I was excited and energetic in the first part of the game, but I think I wore out as that game went on," he said during his post-game press conference. "I need to now really step back and focus. This has all been incredible. I wouldn't have it any other way, but I want to finish the season right. It's time to step back now. You guys won't see as much of me -- fortunately for you guys -- in the next few weeks. We'll get back to business."
In the short term that means winning the Supporters Shield. Sunday's tie means that the Galaxy must win in Seattle this Saturday, and it will have to do so without defender Omar Gonzalez, who was ejected with two minutes of normal time remaining in the second half after he picked up his second caution of the match. The Galaxy did win 3-0 against a shorthanded Seattle side earlier this season, and Arena still likes the position the Galaxy is in.
"To say that you have to go into the last game and win a game to get the Supporters Shield, that's fair enough," he said. "Who can argue that?"