Donovan leads San Jose to victory

Carson:

Landon Donovan scored two goals to lead the San Jose Earthquakes to a 4-2 decision over the Chicago Fire, to win the Major League Soccer championship. Donovan was named the most valuable player. It was the second title in three years for San Jose. The Earthquakes got on the scoresheet first. Just five minutes into the match, Jeff Agoos faked taking a shot on a free kick, and instead, Ronnie Ekelund booted home the goal from 22-meters out, and San Jose led 1-nil. Landon Donovan, a member of the US national team, made a nice run, received a through ball, and then beat the keeper with a left-footed shot for a 2-nil Earthquakes lead. The goal came in the 38th minute. In the second half, Chicago finally scored. DeMarcus Beasley, who also has played with the USA side, scored on a sharp-angle shot from point-blank range. The shot was a blur to the startled keeper, and Chicago had trimmed the deficit to 2-1, in the 49th minute. But moments later, Richard Mulrooney scored his first career playoff goal, in the 50th minute, and San Jose had restored its' two-goal margin, and led 3-1. Chicago got a bit closer, thanks to San Jose's Chris Roner. As a cross headed towards goal, Roner went high to deflect the ball out of danger, but instead, directed the ball directly into his own goal. So Chicago were one goal closer, and trailed 3-2. That in the 54th minute. But Donovan scored once more, with a well-timed run onto a perfect pass. It was the first time a player had scored twice in the MLS title game. After the contest, Earthquakes' captain Jeff Agoos, who played in his 6th MLS championship contest, held the trophy aloft. That's something Agoss has now done, five times. (AP)