After giving up a goal just 71 seconds into the match – and earning deafening boos from the almost capacity crowd – the Galaxy came back to score three straight, the first three goal outburst in a half since May for L.A.

It should have been four – Edson Buddle couldn’t beat D.C. goalkeeper Louis Crayton (a Liberian who played most of his career in Switzerland and was picked up by D.C. in August) when he was in alone on stoppage time and then hit the bar when the ball came back out to him.

Landon Donovan got two of them, extending his MLS best goalscoring streak to 18 in 20 games, already the fourth most goals in a season for the Galaxy.

Devon McTavish got the first for D.C. from an Ivan Guerrero corner kick, deftly trapping, turning and firing home while his marker – Buddle – had completely lost him. It was the fourth fastest goal the Galaxy had ever given up.

Donovan equalized in the 23rd minute, when a Chris Klein through ball from his own half beat three square D.C. defenders and LD coolly shot over a sprawling Crayton.

A Donovan scorcher from 25 yards out in the 35th minute made it 2-1 and three minutes later Alan Gordon made it three. A hard Lewis shot was only parried by Crayton and the ball fell to Gordon who snuck home a shot just inside the near post, two D.C. players on the goal line failing to stop the ball. It was Gordon’s fifth goal of the season.

In between, a Lewis header hit the post and Beckham received a yellow card for dissent after screaming at the referee. One more booking in the next three games and he’ll be suspended for a game.

The Galaxy ended the half with 11 shots on goal to United’s four.