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Joshua Mayers is the Seattle Sounders FC writer for The Seattle Times. Watch for his coverage of the team, Major League Soccer and soccer around the world.

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November 18, 2009 at 2:57 PM

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Landon Donovan wins Goal of the Year, and some photos from the Cup arrival

Posted by Jose Romero

From the Galaxy:

Fans Vote His Goal at New England as the Best of the Year in MLS

CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, November 18, 2009) - LA Galaxy captain Landon Donovan was today named the winner of the 2009 AT&T MLS Goal of the Year Award. With the scored tied 0-0 between the Galaxy and New England Revolution on August 8, Donovan hit a left-footed volley off a New England clearance that beat the diving Matt Reis and curled just inside the far post to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead. Click here to see Donovan's goal that was selected as the 2009 AT&T MLS Goal of the Year.

The Galaxy went on to win that game 2-1, stretching their unbeaten streak to six games and giving the club their first regular season road win over the Revolution since July 11, 1999. Donovan's goal was his ninth of 12 on the season and stretched his consecutive games played with a goal streak to three games.

Donovan's strike was one of three Galaxy goals on the initial list of 40 goals that was compiled by Major League Soccer for Goal of the Year voting. Eddie Lewis' late equalizer against Columbus on May 17 made the list but was eliminated in the first round of voting, while Alecko Eskandarian's first half volley in LA's 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls on July 16 was one of the 10 goals to reach the final round of voting.

Donovan is just the second Galaxy player to win the MLS Goal of the Year award, joining Carlos Ruiz who claimed the award in 2002. His goal against the Revolution was voted by fans as the best of the 571 goals scored in Major League Soccer this season.

MLS Goal of the Year Winners

2009: Landon Donovan - LA Galaxy

2008: Will Johnson - Real Salt Lake

2007: Cuauhtemoc Blanco - Chicago Fire

2006: Brian Ching - Houston Dynamo

2005: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes

2004: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes

2003: Damani Ralph - Chicago Fire

2002: Carlos Ruiz - Los Angeles Galaxy

2001: Clint Mathis - MetroStars

2000: Marcelo Balboa - Colorado Rapids

1999: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United