|
 Donovan, who will retire at the end of this season, was at his
clinical best as Salt Lake uncharacteristically collapsed.
Galaxy will face the winners of Monday's other Western Conference
semi-final between Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas which stands at
1-1 after the first leg.
Donovan opened the scoring with an 11th minute header and 10 minutes
later turned provider, slipping the ball across to Robbie Keane, who
slotted home from close range.
The MLS all-time top scorer made it 3-0 in the 55th minute, racing
on to a Keane pass and rounding goalkeeper Nick Rimando before
finishing from a tight angle.
Irishman Keane was the creator again for the fourth, finding
Brazilian Marcelo Sarvas in the area for a confident finish.
 Donovan completed the rout with his hat-trick, poking home after a
clever chip from the influential Keane.
"I would love to go out as a champion," Donovan told ESPN. "We won
the series (home and away) against both (Dallas and Seattle) in the
regular season so we are confident we can do the job against
whichever team we face," he added.
In the East, New England Revolution beat Columbus Crew 3-1
(aggregate 7-3) to reach the Conference final where they will face
New York Red Bulls.
Leading 4-2 from the first leg the home side were never in danger
after Lee Nguyen gave them the lead in the 43rd minute after he was
found in the area by Teal Bunbury.
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Jose Goncalves made it 2-0 in the 55th minute, bursting down the
left flank to meet a low cross from Charlie Davies.
The Crew then had Ethan Finlay sent off, harshly, after a collision
with New England keeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
A Tony Tchani header in the 68th minute was little more than a
consolation for Columbus but Bunbury made it 3-1 in the 77th minute.
Columbus ended the game with nine men after forward Justin Meram was
dismissed for a second yellow card.
The first legs of the conference finals will be held on Nov. 23.
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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