Capt. Becks takes charge
CARSON, Calif. - David Beckham put on a show in his first start for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The English superstar scored his first goal on a free kick in the 27th minute and had an assist while playing 63 minutes of the Galaxy’s 2-0 victory over D.C. United in the SuperLiga semifinals Wednesday night.
“It’s very satisfying,” Beckham said. “I wanted to get off to a good start. I’m happy.”
And he became captain of his new team, with Landon Donovan turning over the armband to Beckham after their conversation a day earlier.
“He said he felt it would give the team a lift,” Beckham said. “I’m very honored.”
Beckham and Donovan teamed up on the Galaxy’s second goal in the 47th minute, with Beckham sending a long pass to a streaking Donovan, who scored on a breakaway.
“David makes a big difference in there, and it’s not just the goal,” Donovan said. “It was a big lift for everyone. We were all excited. It was nice.”
Beckham had played just 37 minutes in two previous games because of a nagging left ankle injury that didn’t allow him to practice with the Galaxy for the first time until Tuesday.
“I didn’t expect to last an hour,” he said. “It felt a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I felt confident going into tackles.”
The Galaxy advanced to the Aug. 29 tournament final in Carson against Mexican club team Pachuca.
Beckham’s next test comes tomorrow on the road against the New York Red Bulls. He said his ankle was slightly swollen after the game, but he hoped to be able to play at least a half tomorrow.
The highlight Wednesday was his 26-yard free kick, a Beckham trademark, but something he had not practiced in eight weeks.
After he connected inside the left post, he was mobbed by teammates. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon ran across more than half the field to join the celebration.
“The guy hadn’t even taken a free kick in practice,” Cannon said. “Think about what happens when he can start playing every day and start doing those things.”
Beckham said of the goal, “It was quite pleasing. I don’t want to sound too confident, but I felt I was going to score as soon as I had the ball in my hands.”© Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The English superstar scored his first goal on a free kick in the 27th minute and had an assist while playing 63 minutes of the Galaxy’s 2-0 victory over D.C. United in the SuperLiga semifinals Wednesday night.
“It’s very satisfying,” Beckham said. “I wanted to get off to a good start. I’m happy.”
And he became captain of his new team, with Landon Donovan turning over the armband to Beckham after their conversation a day earlier.
“He said he felt it would give the team a lift,” Beckham said. “I’m very honored.”
Beckham and Donovan teamed up on the Galaxy’s second goal in the 47th minute, with Beckham sending a long pass to a streaking Donovan, who scored on a breakaway.
“David makes a big difference in there, and it’s not just the goal,” Donovan said. “It was a big lift for everyone. We were all excited. It was nice.”
Beckham had played just 37 minutes in two previous games because of a nagging left ankle injury that didn’t allow him to practice with the Galaxy for the first time until Tuesday.
“I didn’t expect to last an hour,” he said. “It felt a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I felt confident going into tackles.”
The Galaxy advanced to the Aug. 29 tournament final in Carson against Mexican club team Pachuca.
Beckham’s next test comes tomorrow on the road against the New York Red Bulls. He said his ankle was slightly swollen after the game, but he hoped to be able to play at least a half tomorrow.
The highlight Wednesday was his 26-yard free kick, a Beckham trademark, but something he had not practiced in eight weeks.
After he connected inside the left post, he was mobbed by teammates. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon ran across more than half the field to join the celebration.
“The guy hadn’t even taken a free kick in practice,” Cannon said. “Think about what happens when he can start playing every day and start doing those things.”
Beckham said of the goal, “It was quite pleasing. I don’t want to sound too confident, but I felt I was going to score as soon as I had the ball in my hands.”© Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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