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Briefs Digest for Mon., Dec. 8

SOCCER

Galaxy beats Revs in MLS Cup

CARSON, Calif. >> Robbie Keane scored on a breakaway in the 111th minute, and Landon Donovan retired with his record sixth MLS title when the LA Galaxy beat the New England Revolution 2-1 on Sunday in the MLS Cup.

Gyasi Zardes scored in the 52nd minute as the Galaxy won their record fifth league title in the final game for Donovan, the MLS career scoring leader and most accomplished player in U.S. history.

Donovan, Keane and the Galaxy have celebrated three times on their home field, the first two with David Beckham. Retiring with his skills largely still formidable, Donovan followed in Beckham’s footsteps by leaving on top, wrapping up his 14-year MLS career with six titles, including two with San Jose.

"He’s done it all," said coach Bruce Arena, who won his record fifth MLS title. "He’s got very little left to give. I’m so happy he’s made this decision. He’s able to go out a winner."

Messi scores another hat trick

Lionel Messi scored a hat trick for the third time in his last four games, rallying Barcelona over Espanyol 5-1 in the Catalan derby.

After Sergio Garcia scored for visiting Espanyol in the 13th minute, Messi curled in a goal in first-half injury time and put Barcelona ahead in the 50th off a cross from Luis Suarez. Gerard Pique headed in Ivan Rakitic’s corner kick three minutes later, Pedro Rodriguez made it 

4-1 in the 77th and Messi scored in the 81st for his 29th Barcelona hat trick, his 21st in La Liga.

Florida State wins NCAA title

BOCA RATON, Fla. >> Florida State won its first national championship  with a 1-0 win over Virginia in the Women’s College Cup final.

Florida State is the third school to win a national title without conceding a goal throughout the tournament. The Seminoles were in their third championship game and 15th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Jamia Fields scored the goal in the 83rd minute. All four of her goals this season came in the postseason.

SKIING

Ligety wins giant slalom at Beaver Creek

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. >> Ted Ligety caught up to his boyhood idol on a day when no one could come close to catching up to him, even with a broken wrist.

The American used a powerful second run Sunday to capture his 23rd career World Cup giant slalom race.

With that, Ligety tied Switzerland’s Michael von Gruenigen for second all-time in the discipline. Only fitting, since Ligety was a big fan of von Gruenigen growing up in Utah.

"To have the same amount of World Cup wins as him is surreal," Ligety said. "It’s really cool." 

In fourth place after the opening run, Ligety found speed where others couldn’t on a steadily deteriorating course. He finished in a combined time of 2 minutes, 34.07 seconds. Alexis Pinturault of France was second, 0.18 seconds behind, and Austria’s Marcel Hirscher ended up third.

Gut beats Vonn in super-G

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta >> Lindsey Vonn left Lake Louise with both confidence and the belief she can ski faster.

After winning her first downhill in almost two years, the U.S. star was a second behind winner Lara Gut of Switzerland in Sunday’s World Cup super-G. World Cup overall leader Tina Maze of Slovenia was third.

Vonn has had two knee operations in two years, and this was the second straight season she began her comeback at the Lake Louise World Cup. This return looks more promising this time.

"It meant a lot to have worked so hard for so long and to finally be back in a position where I’m contending every race," Vonn said Sunday. "That’s more than I could have hoped for."

Vonn finished just under four-tenths of a second behind Gut.

Gut didn’t make the top 10 in downhill races Friday or Saturday, but set a blistering pace Sunday in 1 minute, 18.46 seconds.

"Downhill is something that is complicated for me in Lake Louise. It’s always a fight," Gut said. "Super-G is way more fun for me. I would love if we raced two super-G and just one downhill here, but it’s not going to happen."

SWIMMING

More world records fall at short-course championships

DOHA, Qatar >> Five more world records were broken at the short-course world championships on Sunday, with Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden setting two on the final day. 

The total number of world records at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha ended at 23, way ahead of the 17 set at the 2008 worlds in Manchester. 

Sjostrom dominated her events in the 25-meter pool, setting records in winning the 100-meter butterfly and 200 freestyle finals.   

Etiene Medeiros of Brazil became the fastest woman to swim the 50 backstroke, Markus Deibler set a mark in winning the 100 medley and the Netherlands broke the record in the women’s 4×50 freestyle.

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