Donovan's Hat-trick Against Chivas

On This Day in 2008, the Winger Scored Three and Added an Assist in a Huge Win

After a mixed 2007 season that saw him relinquish the captain's armband to new arrival David Beckham, Landon Donovan had something to prove in 2008. Before the MLS season, he surpassed Eric Wynalda as the United States' all-time leading goalscorer after converting a penalty in a win over Sweden. Then, Donovan began the MLS campaign on fire, netting five goals in the first four matches. What awaited was a crucial derby against cross-hall rivals Chivas USA, with Donovan poised to deliver his most emphatic statement yet.

The buildup to the match centered on key individual battles, particularly between England international Beckham and American defender Jonathan Bornstein on the flank. Chivas hoped their youth and speed would counter the Galaxy's experience, with Bornstein's defensive assignment clear: prevent Beckham from delivering the crosses Donovan had been converting with alarming regularity.

Under the watchful eye of 27,000 fans on April 26, the Galaxy struck first through their talisman. In the 18th minute, Donovan pounced to drive the ball past Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan, though Chivas would later complain about a missed handball in the buildup. Sacha Kljestan equalized for Chivas with a spectacular effort, curling a shot into the upper corner after beating defender Abel Xavier.

The second half brought even more drama. In the 59th minute, Donovan reclaimed the lead for the Galaxy with a clinical finish, but Ante Razov quickly responded for Chivas, capitalizing on poor defensive work to make it 2-2. The match hung in the balance until Galaxy substitute Alan Gordon made a game-changing entrance in the 71st minute.

Gordon needed just five minutes to make his mark, taking advantage of a poor clearance to head home the decisive goal past Guzan. His impact continued as he immediately set up Donovan for his third goal in the 77th minute, completing a memorable hat trick – the first by a Galaxy player since 2004. Gordon added a fifth Galaxy goal in the 83rd minute to seal a comprehensive 5-2 victory.

"He's a special player," Beckham said of Donovan afterward. "He works hard for us, and in the form that he's in, it helps the team. At the moment, he's scoring some great goals."

Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit, who had expressed confidence in Donovan before the match, was equally impressed: "It was a great match to watch. We had a lot of ups and downs. We scored some good goals."

The victory was not without controversy, as Chivas coach Preki took exception to Donovan's celebrations. "That shows a lot of disrespect," Preki said. "That's the second time it's happened in two weeks with Landon... I do not appreciate that. We do not appreciate that as a club." Gullit later apologized for the incident.

The win positioned the Galaxy ahead of Chivas in the Western Conference standings and showcased the potential of their star-studded lineup. For Donovan, the performance was another milestone in a banner year. He would score 20 goals with nine assists in 25 matches, forming a potent offensive partnership with Beckham and Edson Buddle as he continued to cement his legacy as one of MLS's greatest goalscorers.

Later that summer, for the US, he would reach the prestigious 100-cap milestone by June – becoming the fourth-youngest player to achieve that feat. As the Galaxy looked forward in their season, Donovan had firmly established himself as the league's most dangerous attacking threat and the centerpiece of the Galaxy's championship aspirations. However, the season was disappointing, with Los Angeles finishing sixth in the Western Conference – missing the playoffs.