USA: David Beckham scores in his first soccer start for LA Galaxy

David Beckham scores a trademark free kick for the LA Galaxy in his first start, and as captain of the side. David Beckham treated Los Angeles Galaxy fans to a master class in his first start for the club on Wednesday (August 16), scoring a goal and creating another after leading the team out as captain. The 32-year-old, hampered by an injured left ankle for the last two months, left the pitch in the 63rd minute after inspiring the Galaxy to a 2-0 win over D.C. United in a SuperLiga semi-final. Wearing his number 23 shirt, Beckham opened the scoring with a superb free kick in the 27th minute to spark wild cheering from a crowd of 17,223 at the Home Depot Center. The former England captain curved one of his trademark strikes into the top left corner of the net from 25 metres, leaving goalkeeper Troy Perkins stranded. Beckham told reporters he had not practised a single free kick since joining the team last month. "It's the first free kick I've taken for eight weeks so that was quite pleasing. I was quite happy with that one." "I've scored a lot of important goals in my career, and big goals in my career, and this ranks among them," he added. Despite having played only 37 minutes in two fleeting appearances for the Galaxy since his signing, Beckham came back out for the second half and made an early impact. In the 47th minute, he threaded a precise through ball for fellow midfielder Donovan who shrugged off two defenders before driving the ball low past Perkins into the right side of the net. Beckham, who was yellow-carded in the 18th minute for a mistimed tackle on D.C. captain and forward Jaime Moreno, produced one more moment of magic before he left the pitch. In the 58th minute, he took his second free kick of the match but his bending effort was brilliantly saved by Perkins diving to his right. After being replaced in the 63rd minute, Beckham was cheered loudly as he made his way to the Galaxy bench where he immediately had his problem ankle iced and strapped. "I didn't expect to last an hour but it felt great after 10 minutes into the game," he said. "My confidence got up with my ankle and I was happy to be out there for 60 minutes." Signed from Real Madrid on a 32.5 million U.S. dollars five-year deal, Beckham had spent most of his first three weeks in Los Angeles receiving ice treatment and massage in the treatment room or working in the gym. He twisted his ankle playing for his country against Estonia in a Euro 2008 qualifying match in June and aggravated it in his final appearance for Real 11 days later when his former team clinched the Spanish league title. But Beckham confirmed that he would be available to play for England in next week's friendly with Germany. "For me it's not a conflict, and for the clubs it's not a conflict. You know they've made it well aware that they'll do anything to help me play for my country," he said. "They know how passionate I feel about playing for my country."

ITN Source | August 17, 2007

Tags:. .scored. .injured. .forward. .despite. .treatment