Donovan proves that he's too much

Two overtime goals eliminate Rapids from U.S. Open Cup

Bob Holtzman, Special to the News

Thursday, August 24, 2006

CARSON, Calif. - Landon Donovan seems to know how to finish off the Colorado Rapids.

Donovan scored twice in overtime to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 3-1 victory against the Rapids in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup before an announced crowd of 6,014 on Wednesday night at the Home Depot Center.

It was the second elimination match in a row in which Donovan ended the Rapids' chance at winning a championship.

Donovan also scored twice last fall in the Western Conference championship to lead the Galaxy to a 2-0 win in Denver against the Rapids.

The Galaxy will host Houston in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Sept. 6 at the Home Depot Center.

Donovan, who came on as a substitute in the 37th minute in place of Cornell Glen (strained left knee), scored the go-ahead goal in the 93rd minute, when he passed to Galaxy midfielder Quavas Kirk on the perimeter. Kirk crossed the ball back across the goal, where Galaxy forward Alan Gordon just missed a header before Donovan found the ball near the far post and chipped it into the net.

He scored again on a breakaway in the 115th minute after receiving a pass from Peter Vagenas.

"It takes time to learn to play as a sub," Donovan said. "When you start a match, you usually can fill your way into it, but you need to make an impact as a sub.

"We haven't played well against them all year. We haven't beat them until (Wednesday night). We had to have this to know we can beat them."

Before the match, Rapids defender Pablo Mastroeni called the chance to win the U.S. Open Cup a privilege. That's an honor the Rapids won't enjoy, while the Galaxy continues its defense of the U.S. Open Cup title.

While the Rapids might have enjoyed three 1-0 victories against the Galaxy during the Major League Soccer regular season, they couldn't make it four in a row.

It looked like Clint Mathis wanted to make sure the West Coast leg of the Rapids' 10-day trip was enjoyable when he scored in the third minute.

The former U.S. national player split the Galaxy's defense when he received a pass from Kyle Beckerman, then touched the ball with his right foot, letting it bounce before hitting it again with the same foot past Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

Jovan Kirovski, who was traded from the Galaxy last season, had some dangerous chances in the first half. The striker put a shot too high in the sixth minute. Then he hit the right post 10 yards out in the 18th minute and forced Hartman to make a save on his shot in the 40th minute.

"It's frustrating. We had a sitter to make it 2-0," Beckerman said. "Instead, we're only ahead 1-0 and they have good players. Landon came on and provided a real spark. And the goal right before the half killed us."

Kirk prevented the Rapids from entering halftime with the lead by scoring in the 45th minute.

The 18-year-old received the ball near the sideline, pushed toward the goal and raced past Colorado defender Eric Denton before blasting it past goalkeeper Matt Jordan from 12 yards away.

"Yeah, that was a pretty good individual effort from him," Beckerman said. "And it was a great shot, real powerful. But we should have been up 2-1 at the time. It's already got to be forgotten."

First half - Colorado, Mathis 1, third minute. Los Angeles, Kirk 1, 45th minute.

Extra time - Donovan 1, 93rd minute; Donovan 2, 115th minute.

Goalies - Colorado, Cannon; Los Angeles, Hartman.

A - 6,014.