CARSON, Calif. -- Any hopes Steve Ralston might have had to hold onto a share of MLS's career assists mark didn't last very long.
Just six days after setting up three goals to pull even with Ralston, Landon Donovan stepped into virgin territory Saturday night, grabbing sole possession of the mark with his 136th assist as the LA Galaxy romped to a 3-0 victory over visiting Toronto FC.
Donovan, who also holds MLS's career goals record (with 144) and the goals (57) and assists (58) records for the U.S. national team, left the former Tampa Bay Mutiny/New England Revolution midfielder behind on Robbie Keane's second goal of the night, a striking volley in the 25th minute that gave LA command as they extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games and climbed atop the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield tables for the first time this season.
It was Donovan's career-best 19th assist of the season, tops in MLS this year, on Keane's 19th goal of the year.
“To be honest, [the assist record] wasn't on my radar until the last, probably, month or so,” said Donovan, who has 15 assists in his last 13 appearances. “It wasn't overly realistic in my mind, but when the team plays like this, it was just natural, and it seems like every time we get a chance, guys are close to scoring or scoring.
“So for me, it's been easy. I just put the ball in the right spot and let the guys do their job. And when you have players like we have, it makes it easy.”
It was just his fourth assist this year on a goal by Keane, and he's assisted five by Gyasi Zardes (16 goals), three by Baggio Husidic (four) and two by Stefan Ishizaki and Omar Gonzalez (four apiece).
“It's an unbelievable achievement,” Keane said of the assists mark. “To have the goals and the assist record, doesn't matter where you are, it's an incredible achievement.”
Saturday's was a vital assist, with Keane's second goal in a four-minute span providing LA control of a match that, head coach Bruce Arena noted, was “not our best game.”
“In the second half, Toronto played well, probably a little more aggressive, won a bunch of second balls, had us out out of rhythm at times,” Arena said. “But what can I say? It was 2-0 at halftime, we kind of knew the score.”
Said Keane: “The job was probably done the first half.”
LA (17-5-9) is three points ahead of Seattle, which can climb back in front, on the tiebreaker, with a win Sunday at Colorado. The Galaxy and Sounders meet the final two weekends of the season.
“Psychologically, [going ahead of Seattle] is important,” Donovan said. “Seattle, I'm sure, watched the game tonight, and it puts more pressure on them tomorrow at Colorado. We'll see what happens, but we know if we keep winning, that we can do the job.”
