Donovan does number on Fire

Landon Donovan, who at 21 has become America's premier player, scored twice yesterday, leading the San Jose Earthquakes to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer's championship match.

On a warm, sunny afternoon before a lively, capacity crowd of 27,000, Donovan became the first player in Major League Soccer's eight-year history to score more than one goal in the championship game.

"After the last two weeks, I have no emotion left. I'm so emotionally drained, it's hard to even celebrate right now," Donovan said, referring to San Jose's dramatic comebacks in the earlier two playoff rounds.

Even the fans who weren't wearing San Jose jerseys with Donovan's number on them were entertained by the action-filled match, which featured the most goals ever in the title game.

Donovan, the US national team's two-time player of the year, scored on the only two shots he took, in the 38th and 71st minutes. Ronnie Ekelund's goal at the five-minute mark, and Richard Mulrooney's in the 50th minute accounted for the other San Jose scoring. DaMarcus Beasley scored for Chicago in the 49th minute. The Fire's other score was an own-goal in the 54th.

Donovan, the game's MVP, capped the scoring with his second goal, racing down the center of the box onto a cross and tapping the ball past goalkeeper Zach Thornton. Donovan's first goal came when he split defenders Orlando Perez and Carlos Bocanegra and took a pass from Jamil Walker. Donovan used his left foot to drive the ball past the diving keeper.

Pat Onstad preserved the Earthquakes' 3-2 lead with a diving save of Ante Razov's penalty kick in the 57th minute.

When the game ended and confetti wafted down onto the field, the San Jose players rushed together, hugging each other and jumping to celebrate their second MLS championship in three years.

San Jose made a remarkable comeback in the opening playoff series against Los Angeles, a two-game, total-goals affair. The Earthquakes lost the first leg, 2-0, then fell behind, 2-0, in the second. But the Earthquakes rallied to take a 4-2 lead, with Donovan scoring one of the goals that helped force overtime. Donovan then fed Rodrigo Faria for the deciding goal.

In the second round, Donovan's overtime goal gave San Jose a comeback, 3-2 win over Kansas City.