Landon Donovan Scores Cap Trick, Opens Account Against Seattle Sounders

Let me take a few moments here to procure a checklist. I have this with me as I compile my take on the match. Ahem.

Payback victory over Seattle? Check.
Doubled-up scoreline over Seattle? Check.
Landon Donovan getting his first of the year? Check.
Landon Donovan getting an assist? Check times three.
Someone other than Buddle scoring? Check times four.
Donovan Ricketts earning another clean sheet? Check.
Seattle supporters heading for the exits? Check.

Only thing missing was Edson Buddle not getting on the score sheet. I think it's safe to say that in the 4-0 rout of the Seattle Sounders this afternoon at Qwest Field that the Galaxy played their best football so far.

I want to take this time to introduce a new term: a cap trick. It's when a team captain in soccer (or hockey) is credited with three assists. It's a pun on the hat trick concept mixed with the role of captain.

I don't know anyone off the top of my head who has recorded three assists as a team captain in a match, but I can tell you that Donovan scored his first cap trick of the year. This match is a testament to Landon's playmaking ability and a reason why you will see him do the business in South Africa later this year.

The loss was Seattle worst-ever home defeat. Sigi Schmid's 4-3-3 formation was useless against Bruce Arena's 4-4-2 which involved Bryan Jordan at right back, Jovan Kirovski at the front and Chris Klein in the place of Juninho.

And Kirovski's first goal was saveable. But Kasey Keller has shown that his best days are behind him, and that was due to slip out his hands.

The set-piece specialist that he is, Donovan found Omar Gonzales on a corner in the 56th to earn his first of the season. Six minutes later, he helped open another account. This time it was Todd Dunivant who received a free kick to make it 3-0.

And just to wrap it all up, Edson Buddle fed Landon Donovan inside the penalty box to make it all academic. He can set you up, and he can finish you off. That's the style and genius of Landon Donovan.

As for the Galaxy, the victory consolidated their position in the overall standing and their hold on the West. With 22 out of 24 possible points and a 7-0-1 record, the Galaxy have succeeded in earning three wins in eight days.

Los Angeles will be at least four points clear of the New York Red Bulls and at least nine clear of Chivas USA, Houston Dynamo and Colorado Rapids for first in the West.

INS AND OUTS:

Félicitations, Montréal!
Ladies and gentlemen, by 2012 we will have 19 teams in Major League Soccer. The announcement was made last Friday by Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo.

Montreal will become the league's newest expansion franchise and will begin play in two seasons' time. You can imagine how the UM02 supporters are feeling right now.

With all three major Canadians clubs in MLS, the battle for the Voyageurs Cup will be on the map. If only the Canadian Soccer League's champion were invited into this competition...

Nonetheless the 13,014 Stade Saputo will be expanded to seat 20,000. It's pretty swell facility, and the Impact will look forward to hosting matching with the likes of teams like the Los Angeles Galaxy on a frequent basis.

So let us raise a Molson and a hatful of poutine, and extend our congratulations to the Impact earning the call-up to one of North America's premier football competitions (aside from Mexico's Primera Division).