Landon Donovan says goodbye to U.S. men's national team in 1-1 draw with Ecuador

USA forward Landon Donovan celebrates after his last national team game

Landon Donovan's United States national team career ended on a high note Friday night, as he said goodbye in a 1-1 draw with Ecuador at Rentschler Field after a rocky six months that saw him miss out on a dream ending in Brazil.

It was a reluctant farewell, one Donovan had been hesitant to agree to at first but ultimately accepted and embraced. Caught between a coach in Jurgen Klinsmann that was done with him and a federation that still struggles to imagine life without him, the enigmatic No. 10 went through a seemingly rehearsed script that was only missing the Hollywood ending of one more goal.

Donovan and the Americans started strong. An early cross found Jozy Altidore at the far post only to see the striker fail to control it enough to turn it into the net. He did manage to pass to DeAndre Yedlin, who quickly found an open Mix Diskerud for the opening goal after just five minutes.

Donovan's greatest chance to score came in the 24th minute when Altidore beautifully back-heeled a pass between two defenders to set up Donovan with a clear look at goal. He fired past Maximo Banguera but was denied by the post and couldn't recover in time to bury the rebound. A shot by Donovan a few minutes later rolled wide left of the post for his final chance.

Donovan, who was expected to play only 30 minutes, was replaced by Joe Corona in the 41st minute, walking off a field filled with young U.S. players he hardly played with. The Americans would've left Connecticut with a 1-0 victory if it wasn't for a swerving wonder strike by Enner Valencia for an 88th-minute equalizer.

Donovan finished his night with a post-match interview where he thanked the crowd and everyone watching on TV, admitted he'd miss playing, then watched a video tribute put together by U.S. Soccer. Scorer of the late, dramatic winner against Algeria at the 2010 World Cup that sent the U.S. through to the knockout round, Donovan took a long victory lap around Rentschler Field to the tune of Davie Bowi's "Heroes."