Donovan limps off as Galaxy loses to Salt Lake

The 30-year-old midfielder, who missed last month's qualifiers against Jamaica because of a hamstring injury, hurt his left knee after contact with Real Salt Lake defender Jamison Olave in the RSL box in the 81st minute. He required medical attention on the field, then limped off and walked gingerly to the Galaxy bench.

Donovan said he did not hear a pop, which frequently accompanies a ligament tears, but that the extent of the damage wasn't known.

"We have no idea," he said. "We have to get it worked out. ... It didn't feel good."

The Americans figure to need at least a win and a tie when they play at Antigua on Friday and host Guatemala on Oct. 16 at Kansas City, Kan. Those are the final two games in the semifinal round of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Asked if he would miss the games, Donovan replied: "TBD."

The U.S. also could be missing Dallas midfielder Brek Shea, who left his team's game against San Jose on Sept. 29 in the 69th minute.

Fabian Espindola scored in the 25th and 28th minutes to help Real Salt Lake (17-11-4) overcome an early deficit to pull five points ahead of the Galaxy (15-12-5) and six in front of Seattle in the battle for second place in the Western Conference. RSL and L.A. have two games remaining; Seattle, which plays Portland on Sunday, has four left.

The fourth-place team must win a wild-card game to enter the playoff bracket.

The Galaxy struck first, on a superb Robbie Keane volley in the 17th minute, but struggled to break down RSL's defense in front of a sellout crowd of 27,000 at the Home Depot Center.