SoCal MLS Capsule

COLUMBUS 3, LOS ANGELES 3

CARSON, California (Ticker) -- Landon Donovan has set a blistering pace in his zest to capture the Golden Boot. However, if he wants to keep his lead over the field in the MLS scoring race, he may need to be a bit more selfish. Donovan scored two goals Saturday, but watched helplessly as the Los Angeles Galaxy gave away two second-half leads before settling for a 3-3 tie with the Columbus Crew.

Donovan tallied in the fourth minute and Edson Buddle scored in the 47th minute to stake the Galaxy to a 2-0 lead. Although Brad Evans and Robbie Rogers tied the game at 2-2 in the span of just four minutes midway through the second half, Donovan seemingly put the contest away with a penalty kick goal in the 83rd minute after Crew defender Danny O'Rourke tripped David Beckham just inside the box. But the Galaxy (6-4-3) were unable to notch their fifth win in six games as Steven Lenhart muscled his way inside the goalkeeper's box and beat keeper Steve Cronin for the tying goal in the 88th minute.

With his MLS-best 11 goals, Donovan remains well ahead of the pack. However, while he has missed three games this season - two due to his commitment with the United States national team, one because of injury - Buddle has become a scoring machine.

With nine goals, Buddle is Donovan's closest competition in the MLS scoring race as they rank 1-2. With their 20 goals, the duo has combined to score more goals than eight MLS teams and as many as three others. Only New England and D.C. United, each of which have 21 goals, have scored more. Cronin made just one save for Los Angeles while William Hesmer turned away four shots for Columbus (7-4-2).