Soccer-Donovan hat-trick powers U.S. past Ecuador

MIAMI, March 25 (Reuters) - Landon Donovan scored 35 seconds into the match and went on to record his second career hat-trick as United States beat Ecuador 3-1 in a friendly on Sunday.

The U.S. team captain drove a left-footed shot from 20 metres past surprised Ecuador goalkeeper Rorys Aragon to the delight of the majority in the 31,547 crowd at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Donovan added goals in the 66th and 67th minutes for the 10th hat-trick by a U.S. national team player. He scored from a pass by Brian Ching and a minute later he blasted a shot from 20 metres into the upper right corner.

Felipe Caicedo scored Ecuador's only goal, an 11th-minute equaliser from a pass by defender Neicer Reasco. Caicedo dribbled past several defenders inside the box before beating goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Donovan's performance delighted U.S. coach Bob Bradley, who said: "Throughout this camp, you could tell that he had really stepped things up in terms of his role on the team.

"He really came through with the goals and good movement off the ball, which is something that he does really well."

The victory was the third straight for the Americans under Bradley, who became the first U.S. national coach to win his first three games.

The hat-trick was Donovan's first since he scored four goals against Cuba in 2003. (Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina)