19 January 2008 - Donovan Takes The Lead

On 19 January 2008, a penalty kick against Sweden made Landon Donovan the all-time scoring leader for the US men's team.

Since making his first appearance in 2000, the forward/midfielder had already become the team's all-time leader in assists, passing Cobi Jones for that honor in 2006. By January 2008, he had scored a total of 34 goals, including key strikes in the 2002 World Cup and several Gold Cup competitions, to match the record set by Eric Wynalda from 1990 to 2000.

Playing a friendly against Sweden at the Home Depot Center in California, the US went up 1-0 with a 15th-minute goal from debutant Eddie Robinson. Then, just after the break, Swedish center back Mattias Bjärsmyr committed a foul in the box against US forward Jozy Altidore. Donovan stepped up and converted the ensuing penalty kick to claim sole possession of the goalscoring record. The US went on to win the match 2-0.

Before his retirement in 2014, Donovan extended the record to 57. It remains well behind the record for the women's team, however, set at 184 by Abby Wambach (2001-2015).

14 April 1998 - So, About That "Captain For Life" Thing ...

On 14 April 1998, manager Steve Sampson dropped captain John Harkes from the US World Cup squad in a decision that would not be fully explained for almost 12 years.

Harkes first joined the national team in 1987 while still a student at the University of Virginia. He quickly secured a regular starting position in the midfield and helped the US qualify for the 1990 World Cup--their first since 1950--and played every minute for the US in the tournament. He returned to the World Cup in 1994 as the US advanced out of the group stages, but missed the Round of 16 match-up against Brazil because of an accumulation of yellow cards. Brazil won 1-0.

Steve Sampson took charge of the national team in 1995 and, shortly afterward, named Harkes his "Captain for Life." But on 14 April 1998, after the US had qualified for that year's World Cup, Sampson dropped Harkes from the team, citing a variety of reasons such as reluctance to play defense, missing team flights, and ignoring curfew. Harkes denied the allegations, but claimed that, even if they were true, they did not justify his exclusion from the squad. In any event, the US finished the 1998 World Cup without a single point.

In February 2010, Sampson finally revealed the real reason for his decision, claiming that Harkes had had an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda. The revelation came in the wake of a scandal that saw England captain John Terry lose the armband over an affair with the girlfriend of teammate Wayne Bridge, with Sampson stating that "maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup."

To date, Harkes has refused to comment on the accusations.

6 April 1996 - The Name "San Jose Sex Pistols" Is Still Available

On 6 April 1996, the San Jose Clash hosted DC United for the inaugural Major League Soccer match. San Jose won, 1-0, but United went on to win the league title.

The new league was part of the deal that brought the World Cup to the United States in 1994. Only ten teams contested that first season, followed by a playoff tournament to decide the league champion. In addition to the tournament, MLS departed from the International Football Association Board rules by using a countdown clock (which paused for stoppages of play) and shootouts to decide matches that were even at the end of regulation.

It looked as if the shootout procedure might be needed in that first game, played before a capacity crowd of 31,683 at San Jose's Spartan Stadium. But with two minutes left, Clash forward Eric Wynalda dribbled into the DC United box, beat one defender, then split two others to fire a shot into the far corner of the net. It was the very first goal scored in MLS and was enough to give the victory to the Clash.

In 1999, the Clash renamed themselves the Earthquakes, taking the name from the city's old NASL team. The team moved to Houston in 2006 and became the Dynamo, while the Earthquakes name and records remained in San Jose. After a two-year hiatus, the Earthquakes team rejoined MLS in 2008.

19 January 2008 - The Man With The Golden Boot

On 19 January 2008, Landon Donovan became the US national team's all-time leading scorer with a penalty kick against Sweden.

Donovan, who played his first full international in 2000, was already the team's all-time assist leader, having passed his LA Galaxy teammate Cobi Jones for that honor in 2006. And in 2007, he tied Eric Wynalda's scoring record of 34 goals in dramatic fashion, converting a 62nd-minute penalty kick to equalize against Mexico in the Gold Cup Final as the US went on to win 2-1.

The match against Sweden was a friendly, played at the Galaxy's Home Depot Center in Carson, California as both teams geared up for their World Cup 2010 qualifying campaigns. Defender Eddie Robinson, in his first international appearance, drove a shot home from a rebound in the 15th minute to put the hosts up 1-0. Then, in the 48th minute, the referee awarded the US a penalty kick when Sweden's Mattias Bjarsmyr fouled US forward Jozy Altidore in the box. Donovan stepped up and converted the spot kick for his record 35th goal.

Donovan increased his record goal tally to 57 before his retirement in 2014.

18 June 1994 - The Yanks Get The Point

On 18 June 1994, the United States earned their first World Cup point since 1950 by drawing 1-1 with Switzerland in the opening match of the tournament. Played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan, it was also the first World Cup match in history to be played indoors.

The US had earned their last World Cup points in 1950 with a shocking 1-0 upset of England. They were subsequently eliminated from that tournament with a loss to Chile, then failed to qualify for the competition until 1990, when they lost all three of their matches.

In 1994, the hosting US side appeared to be headed for another poor run after going down 0-1 in the first half with a 39th-minute free kick from veteran Swiss striker Georges Bregy. But right before the end of the half, the referee awarded the US a free kick after a foul by Swiss midfielder Ciriaco Sforza. Forward Eric Wynalda stepped up and fired the 28-yard kick over the wall and into the top near-side corner of the net for the equalizer.

The teams played to a stalemate for the remainder of the match, which finished 1-1. The US went on the earn an additional three points by defeating Colombia 2-1, but lost their remaining matches to Romania (0-1 in the group stage) and Brazil (1-0 in the first knockout round).

19 January 2008 - Donovan Takes The Lead

On 19 January 2008, a penalty kick against Sweden made Landon Donovan the all-time scoring leader for the US men's team.

Since making his first appearance in 2000, the forward/midfielder had already become the team's all-time leader in assists, passing Cobi Jones for that honor in 2006. By January 2008, he had scored a total of 34 goals, including key strikes in the 2002 World Cup and several Gold Cup competitions, to match the record set by Eric Wynalda from 1990 to 2000.

Playing a friendly against Sweden at the Home Depot Center in California, the US went up 1-0 with a 15th-minute goal from debutant Eddie Robinson. Then, just after the break, Swedish center back Mattias Bjärsmyr committed a foul in the box against US forward Jozy Altidore. Donovan stepped up and converted the ensuing penalty kick to claim sole possession of the goalscoring record. The US went on to win the match 2-0.

Donovan has continued to add to his total and currently has extended the record to 46. It remain well behind the record for the women's team, however, set at 158 by Mia Hamm from 1987 to 2004.

(Photo credit to Kirby Lee, US Presswire.)

14 April 1998 - So, About That "Captain For Life" Thing ...

On 14 April 1998, manager Steve Sampson dropped captain John Harkes from the US World Cup squad in a decision that would not be fully explained for almost 12 years.

Harkes first joined the national team in 1987 while still a student at the University of Virginia. He quickly secured a regular starting position in the midfield and helped the US qualify for the 1990 World Cup--their first since 1950--and played every minute for the US in the tournament. He returned to the World Cup in 1994 as the US advanced out of the group stages, but missed the Round of 16 match-up against Brazil because of an accumulation of yellow cards. Brazil won 1-0.

Steve Sampson took charge of the national team in 1995 and, shortly afterward, named Harkes his "Captain for Life." But on 14 April 1998, after the US had qualified for that year's World Cup, Sampson dropped Harkes from the team, citing a variety of reasons such as reluctance to play defense, missing team flights, and ignoring curfew. Harkes denied the allegations, but claimed that, even if they were true, they did not justify his exclusion from the squad. In any event, the US finished the 1998 World Cup without a single point.

In February 2010, Sampson finally revealed the real reason for his decision, claiming that Harkes had had an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda. The revelation came in the wake of a scandal that saw England captain John Terry lose the armband over an affair with the girlfriend of teammate Wayne Bridge, with Sampson stating that "maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup."

To date, Harkes has refused to comment on the accusations.

6 April 1996 - The Name "San Jose Sex Pistols" Is Still Available

On 6 April 1996, the San Jose Clash hosted DC United for the inaugural Major League Soccer match. San Jose won, 1-0, but United went on to win the league title.

The new league was part of the deal that brought the World Cup to the United States in 1994. Only ten teams contested that first season, followed by a playoff tournament to decide the league champion. In addition to the tournament, MLS departed from the International Football Association Board rules by using a countdown clock (which paused for stoppages of play) and shootouts to decide matches that were even at the end of regulation.

It looked as if the shootout procedure might be needed in that first game, played before a capacity crowd of 31,683 at San Jose's Spartan Stadium. But with two minutes left, Clash forward Eric Wynalda dribbled into the DC United box, beat one defender, then split two others to fire a shot into the far corner of the net. It was the very first goal scored in MLS and was enough to give the victory to the Clash.

In 1999, the Clash renamed themselves the Earthquakes, taking the name from the city's old NASL team. The team moved to Houston in 2006 and became the Dynamo, while the Earthquakes name and records remained in San Jose. After a two-year hiatus, the Earthquakes team rejoined MLS in 2008.

19 January 2008 - The Man With The Golden Boot

On 19 January 2008, Landon Donovan became the US national team's all-time leading scorer with a penalty kick against Sweden.

Donovan, who played his first full international in 2000, was already the team's all-time assist leader, having passed his LA Galaxy teammate Cobi Jones for that honor in 2006. And in 2007, he tied Eric Wynalda's scoring record of 34 goals in dramatic fashion, converting a 62nd-minute penalty kick to equalize against Mexico in the Gold Cup Final as the US went on to win 2-1.

The match against Sweden was a friendly, played at the Galaxy's Home Depot Center in Carson, California as both teams geared up for their World Cup 2010 qualifying campaigns. Defender Eddie Robinson, in his first international appearance, drove a shot home from a rebound in the 15th minute to put the hosts up 1-0. Then, in the 48th minute, the referee awarded the US a penalty kick when Sweden's Mattias Bjarsmyr fouled US forward Jozy Altidore in the box. Donovan stepped up and converted the spot kick for his record 35th goal.

Donovan's goal tally currently stands at 45, including 3 scored at the 2010 World Cup.

18 June 1994 - The Yanks Get The Point

On 18 June 1994, the United States earned their first World Cup point since 1950 by drawing 1-1 with Switzerland in the opening match of the tournament. Played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan, it was also the first World Cup match in history to be played indoors.

The US had earned their last World Cup points in 1950 with a shocking 1-0 upset of England. They were subsequently eliminated from that tournament with a loss to Chile, then failed to qualify for the competition until 1990, when they lost all three of their matches.

In 1994, the hosting US side appeared to be headed for another poor run after going down 0-1 in the first half with a 39th-minute free kick from veteran Swiss striker Georges Bregy. But right before the end of the half, the referee awarded the US a free kick after a foul by Swiss midfielder Ciriaco Sforza. Forward Eric Wynalda stepped up and fired the 28-yard kick over the wall and into the top near-side corner of the net for the equalizer.

The teams played to a stalemate for the remainder of the match, which finished 1-1. The US went on the earn an additional three points by defeating Colombia 2-1, but lost their remaining matches to Romania (0-1 in the group stage) and Brazil (1-0 in the first knockout round).