CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy’s big three cranked up the offense on Saturday as Landon Donovan, Juan Pablo Ángel and David Beckham all found the back of the net in a 4-1 rout of Sporting Kansas City at The Home Depot Center.
Donovan had two goals in a span of two minutes to offset an Omar Gonzalez own goal as the Galaxy snapped a three-match winless skid. Sporting KC, meanwhile, remained winless in their last six matches, dating back to their previous visit to The Home Depot Center when the club opened the season with a 3-2 win over Chivas USA. They have yet to win since.
READ: Postgame notes from the win
Donovan’s goals were historic. He now has 110 career MLS goals, good for fourth in the all-time table.
Sporting KC got on the scoreboard first courtesy of a gift from the Galaxy. Milos Stojcev swung a ball into the front of the net from the right flank. Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez swung at the ball but got only enough of it to re-direct it into the corner of the net.
However, the Galaxy fought back and got the equalizer before the end of the half. LA defender Todd Dunivant did well to fight for a ball on the right side of the penalty area. The ball bounced back to Beckham, who was taken down inside the box. Referee Baldomero Toledo immediately pointed to the spot as the Galaxy were awarded a spot kick.
Donovan calmly buried the penalty kick and with it surpassed FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake striker Jason Kreis on the MLS all-time scoring chart. Donovan’s 109th career goal moved him into the fourth spot on the list, behind Jaime Moreno, Jeff Cunningham and Ante Razov.
Highlights: LA 4, KC 1
Perhaps the Galaxy realized at halftime that their opponent had one of the league’s most porous defenses – Sporting KC is the only team in MLS not to have a shutout. It took just seconds for the Galaxy to claim their first lead of the match. Donovan and Chad Barrett combined on a give-and-go that put the Galaxy on top. Donovan fed Barrett in the middle of the box and Barrett sent the ball back onto Donovan’s path. Donovan easily found the back of the net, beating a helpless Eric Krongberg.
Angel replaced Miguel Lopez early in the second half and quickly found the back of the net. Barrett sent Angel through as the former New York star raced past Sporting KC’s defense. Angel easily beat Eric Kronberg and picked up his second goal of the season in the process.
Late in the match, Beckham put an exclamation mark on the victory when he buried a free kick from the left side of the penalty area. The goal was Beckham’s first of the season and also gave the Galaxy four goals for the first time in 2011.
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