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May 25, 2008 - 2:29 AM
0 shoutsCARSON, California (Ticker) -- Landon Donovan posted a goal and an assist Saturday, leading the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Wizards.
David Beckham added an insurance goal in the 94th minute, his fourth tally of the season, for the Galaxy (4-3-2), who moved atop the Western Conference with their second straight win.
After Claudio Lopez gave the Wizards (3-4-2) an early 1-0 advantage, Donovan answered back with his ninth goal of the season.
"I think that the big difference today was Donovan's performance in the second half," Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit said. "I felt that he was excellent and that was the difference."
Following a tripping call on Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad that Donovan helped sell to the officials, Donovan converted a penalty kick in the 54th minute to knot the game at 1-1.
Donovan contributed his sixth assist of the season in the 74th minute, feeding Edson Buddle from inside the penalty area for his fourth goal of the campaign.
"I feel fortunate right know," Buddle said. "I know as a forward, things will go hot and cold for you and, right now, I'm just trying to make myself available to my teammates and it's working out.
"Right now, I'm getting the service if I can shake my defender or make a little space. I know I can count on the ball being there and it shows that my teammates believe in me and it gives me the confidence to finish the ball the way I know I can."
The high-scoring duo of Donovan and Beckham has helped the Galaxy nearly lap the field in terms of goals scored. With their three goals Saturday, Los Angeles has scored 22 goals this season, six more than second-place D.C. United.
While Donovan's nine goals and six assists each lead MLS, Beckham is tied with Columbus' Guillermo Barros Schelotto for second place in MLS with five assists.
"(Beckham is) a great player," Wizards coach Curt Onalfo said. "We had to adjust our game plan to deal with him and then you add Donovan to the mix. When you have creative players like that, it's very hard to deal with."
Following the game, Beckham immediately boarded a flight to England to begin preparations with his native country for a friendly match on Wednesday against the United States - and Galaxy teammate Donovan.
Goalkeeper Steve Cronin turned away three shots for the Galaxy while the Wizards' Kevin Hartman recorded six saves.
From the Bleachers
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KANSAS CITY: 1
LOS ANGELES: 3
Final
May 25 12:29 AM -
MLS UPDATE
KANSAS CITY 1
LOS ANGELES 3
LOS ANGELES GOAL: David Beckham in the 89th minute
May 25 12:27 AM -
MLS UPDATE
KANSAS CITY 1
LOS ANGELES 2
LOS ANGELES GOAL: Edson Buddle in the 74th minute
May 25 12:07 AM -
MLS UPDATE
KANSAS CITY 1
LOS ANGELES 1
LOS ANGELES PENALTY GOAL: Landon Donovan in the 54th minute
May 24 11:51 PM -
KANSAS CITY: 1
LOS ANGELES: 0
End of 1st
May 24 11:23 PM -
MLS UPDATE
KANSAS CITY 1
LOS ANGELES 0
KANSAS CITY GOAL: Claudio Lopez in the 40th minute
May 24 11:20 PM
