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Beckham back as Galaxy beat Red Bulls 3-1
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-18 10:30
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: David Beckham returned to Major League Soccer with a whisper, not a shout, as his Los Angeles Galaxy beat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 on Thursday. Playing in a stadium only a quarter full, the former England captain had little role in the win, which lifted Los Angeles to equal third in both the Western Conference and the overall MLS standings. "The most important thing is for us to get three points, and tonight we did that in style," Beckham said. In his first club game since his loan spell with AC Milan finished with the Italian League's season end on May 31, Beckham was often behind the play and was understandably short of match fitness. He had no free-kick chances near goal, didn't make any crosses that created threats and didn't even take all the corners while he was on the pitch. Los Angeles drew 66,237 for its 5-4 win at New York two years ago, the largest football crowd at Giants Stadium for a U.S. league game in 27 years. Attendance dropped to 46,754 for last year's clash and fell to 23,238 on Thursday. "The first year was impressive," Beckham said. "We're in a recession so maybe that's part of it." LA went ahead in just the third minute as Alecko Eskandarian scored a long-distance volley. Landon Donovan doubled the advantage with another long-range shot in the 31st and Eddie Lewis made it 3-0 from closer range just before halftime. Los Angeles has won four straight MLS games for the first time since September-October 2007. The Galaxy had not won at New York since 2000. |
