SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) _ Landon Donovan gave an All-Star
performance worthy of the United States' greatest young soccer
hope.
Donovan, the San Jose Earthquakes' 19-year-old rookie forward,
scored three goals in the first 18 minutes _ and a fourth 83
seconds into injury time _ as the West All-Stars played to a 6-6
tie with the East on Saturday in the sixth MLS All-Star game.
Donovan's four goals doubled the previous All-Star game record.
He won the game's MVP award for his remarkable show for his home
fans at a packed Spartan Stadium.
The East scored twice in the final seven minutes of regulation
and nearly stole the game from the West, which never trailed until
Cate of New England scored a go-ahead goal in the 88th minute.
But the final result was secondary to the all-out offensive show
put on by both teams _ and the fun of a friendly match among MLS'
best players.
Jim Rooney of the Miami Fusion scored in the 84th minute to tie
the game at 5-5 _ and in the light-hearted spirit of the All-Star
game, Rooney pulled off his jersey to reveal a black sports bra
similar to the one famously worn by U.S. women's team star Brandi
Chastain at the 1999 World Cup.
When Donovan scored the game-tying goal in injury time at the
end of a brilliant run, he pulled off his jersey and revealed his
own sports bra.
It was the only less-than-original move made by Donovan all
afternoon.
Even without his bright blond dye job, Donovan would have stood
out on Saturday. Donovan, widely considered a future star of the
U.S. national team, used his seemingly effortless speed and careful
footwork to become the MVP of his first All-Star game.
With four teen-age All-Stars _ including 16-year-old Santino
Quaranta of D.C. United, the youngest All-Star in North American
pro sports history _ the game was a perfect showcase for MLS' new
generation of stars. None shone brighter than Donovan, who broke
the records for goals and points in an MLS All-Star game.
With six of his Earthquakes teammates in the West's starting
lineup, Donovan was very much at home _ and he waited three minutes
after the opening whistle to score his first All-Star goal.
West goalie Joe Cannon, Donovan's teammate in San Jose, lofted a
length-of-the-field pass over the entire East squad to Donovan, who
took one dribble and put the ball off East goalie Nick Rimando's
short side and into the net.
Four minutes later, Ariel Graziani settled the ball in the
penalty area for Donovan, who fired a 20-yard strike into the far
corner. He celebrated with hugs from his teammates and a wave at
his twin sister, Tristan, in the stands.
At 17:44, Donovan found himself alone in the penalty area yet
again on a pass from San Jose teammate Manny Lagos. He fired a low
left-footed shot past Rimando for the first hat trick in All-Star
game history.
Graziani, of the Dallas Burn, scored to put the West up 4-0, but
Cannon's shutout bid ended two minutes later on a volley goal by
Miami's Alex Pineda Chacon. Columbus' Brian McBride got two goals
for the East in a five-minute span near the end of the first half.
Mamadou Diallo of Tampa Bay and Dema Kovalenko of the Chicago
Fire traded second-half goals before Rooney tied the game.