Donovan Hat-Trick Propels Galaxy

 “The Galaxy celebrate another win.”---Photo by Doug Brown

“The Galaxy celebrate another win.”—Photo by Doug Brown

A sold-out crowd of 27,000 at StubHub Center where the Los Angeles Galaxy have not lost since its opening game of the 2014 MLS season to Real Salt Lake continued to be a house of horrors for visitors.  The “drive for five” continued to be as Landon Donovan delivered a hat-trick in the Galaxy’s 5-0 win over Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Semi-finals.

Donovan did it thrice on Sunday night. (Photo by Doug Brown)

Donovan did it thrice on Sunday night. (Photo by Doug Brown)

The offensive explosion is what Los Angeles has sorely needed after being winless since October 4 when they defeated Toronto, 3-0. Since then the Galaxy have been outscored 5-3 in four games, including a 0-0 tie to Real Salt Lake in their road visit to Sandy, UT to open the 2014 MLS Cup playoffs.

Real Salt Lake never really threatened during the entire match as Los Angeles showed more energy and explosiveness throughout the ninety-minutes of the game.

Ten minutes after Donovan headed home the opening goal, he found Robbie Keane crashing the middle of the six-yard box. Keane did the rest sliding home the games second score of the night.

The visiting lads from Utah only had one threat in the first 45 minutes, that came in stoppage time as Chris Wingert fired a shot that harmlessly went over the Galaxy net.

Los Angeles sealed the game early in the second half as Donovan found himself one-on-one with RSL goalkeeper Nik Rimando. Donovan deeked Rimando and fired a shot to the right corner of the net.

Donovan finished the evening firing home a shot after a chip-pass from Keane to seal the victory to advance the Galaxy into the MLS Cup Western Conference Championship against the winner of Dallas-Seattle series tomorrow night. The game no matter the outcome will take place on November 23rd.

The 5-0 loss by RSL was the worst playoff loss in the teams history.

 

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