THE LOS ANGELES GALAXY has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success over the years—mostly because its high-priced talent usually plays well in important games. It was true during the David Beckham era and it's definitely true in 2014.

After a scoreless draw in the opening leg against Real Salt Lake—during which L.A. only escaped on level terms thanks to terrific goalkeeping from Jamie Penedo—Sunday’s dominating performance was a complete 180-degree turnaround. The Galaxy took control of the game early and didn’t let up.

Landon Donovan opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he headed home an A.J. Delagarza cross and then Robbie Keane doubled the advantage in the 20th minute when he slid home a low-driving Donovan cross.

The Galaxy piled on during the second half as Donovan added two more goals for a hat trick and Keane assisted on all three second half goals to give the home team a 5-0 win. On its best days, Los Angeles is far and away the best in the league. If the Galaxy can maintain this level, Don Garber may as well hand over MLS Cup right now.

Donovan's performance one for the ages

Landon Donovan turned in nearly flawless performance on Sunday. Major League Soccer's all-time leading scorer dominated the game and looked like he was in the prime of his career. The chants of “one more year” were inevitable, and thoroughly justified. At 32, Donovan did not look like a player ready to retire. His off-the-ball movement was superb and he looked dynamic when the game was wide open.

For fans, it is a good thing to see Donovan leaving at the top of his game but it is also a shame to him retiring when he has so much more to give. This is not a nostalgic retirement tour—a genuine impact player is walking away from the league and the game.

Growing pains for Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake fell flat in the second leg and there were some questions that first-year coach Jeff Cassar needs to address. Luis Gil was one of the best players on the field in the first leg but his benching in the second leg was baffling.

Also, why was the team so poor away from home at the end of the season? Real Salt Lake failed to win any of its final seven road games and won just one of its final 12 outside of the high-altitude confines of Rio Tinto.

Such a discrepancy between home and away records shows flaws in confidence and preparation and some of that must fall on Cassar. For a team that was within a shootout goal of winning MLS Cup in 2013, its poor performance away from home showed that it is not close to that level just one year later.

Galaxy firing on all cylinders

Los Angeles did not win the Supporters' Shield but its goal differential of +32—compared with the +15 differential of Seattle, D.C. United, and Salt Lake—is the clearest sign that Bruce Arena's team is the best in MLS. Seattle won the Supporters' Shield with a late surge and better overall consistency, but if L.A. is playing its best soccer it is the best team in the league.

The 5-0 rout suggests that the Galaxy is hitting its stride at just the right time and that does not bode well for Seattle, New York, or New England.

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.