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Donovan Scores, Galaxy Rally To Beat Real Salt Lake

SANDY, Utah (AP) -- Landon Donovan scored a goal in each half to fuel a rally from a two-goal deficit and lift the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Mike Magee also scored for the Galaxy, who had three unanswered goals to knock off the Western Conference leaders.

Kyle Beckerman and Alvaro Saborio each scored first-half goals for RSL, which saw its seven-game unbeaten streak snapped in stunning fashion. It was the first time in franchise history Salt Lake lost an MLS game after building a two-goal lead.

Salt Lake (10-4-2) attacked the Galaxy early and it paid off. The hosts put Los Angeles on its heels defensively and the Galaxy (5-8-2) struggled to find methods for containing RSL's main playmakers.

Until U.S. national team star Donovan took charge, that is.

Los Angeles got back into the game in the 29th minute. Donovan intercepted a lazy pass from Tony Beltran and beat goalkeeper Nick Rimando with a left-footed shot, cutting the lead to 2-1. The goal snapped a personal 280-minute shutout streak for Rimando.

The Galaxy evened the score in the 50th minute. Magee cut around Jamison Olave on the left flank and fired a shot at the opposite goalpost. The ball banged off the right post and inside the net to make it 2-2.

Donovan struck again in the 68th minute with the winner. Rimando came out to meet him on a breakaway. Donovan sidestepped the veteran keeper and fired the ball into an empty net.

It marked the second time this season Los Angeles scored three consecutive goals after trailing early. The Galaxy also did it April 14 for a 3-1 victory over Portland.

Real grabbed a 1-0 lead when Fabian Espindola saved the ball from going over the end line and flicked it to Beckerman at the top of the 6-yard box. Beckerman fired the ball into the middle of the net in the 9th minute.

Espindola stepped into the playmaker role again in the 24th minute. This time, he crossed the ball deep into the box toward Saborio. With a defender blanketing him, Saborio managed to get a toe on the ball and flicked it into the corner of the net to make it 2-0.

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