David Beckham, the most expensive signing in US "sacker" history, has finally scored his first goal for Los Angeles Galaxy. His beautifully taken free kick went over the DC United wall and rocketed into the back of the net....
David Beckham scores first LA Galaxy goal
By Megan Levy and agencies
16/08/2007
Daily Mail
LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2-0 DC UNITED
David Beckham has scored his long-awaited first goal for LA Galaxy after being included in the starting line-up for the first time since moving to America.
The 32-year-old England midfielder curled a free-kick into the net 28 minutes into the match, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
A nagging ankle injury has plagued Beckham
Fans cheered and women screamed as Beckham, named captain for the match, prepared to take the 26-yard free kick in the first half.
After scoring inside the left post, he was mobbed by team-mates, who ran across more than half the field to join the celebration.
All eyes have been on Beckham since he made his long-awaited, insanely hyped debut with the LA team last month.
But a nagging ankle injury has confined him mostly to the bench, to the disappointment of fans and Beckham himself.
As the most expensive signing in US soccer history, he had played just 37 minutes in two previous games.
Wearing his number 23 shirt, Beckham was greeted with a roar from the crowd at the Home Depot Centre in Carson, California, as he took to the pitch against DC United in the SuperLiga semi-final.
He was the last Galaxy player to take the field for pre-game warm-ups, but quickly fell in with his team-mates, jogging, stretching and kicking balls.
Later in the game he assisted fellow midfielder Landon Donovan to score a second goal, catapulting LA Galaxy to a 2-0 win.
Beckham also received a yellow card in the 18th minute for a foul on United's Jaime Moreno.
He played a total of 63 minutes before being replaced by substitute Peter Vagenas.
As Beckham left the pitch, he clapped his hands above his head while turning in a circle to acknowledge the cheers before putting the captain's armband on Donovan and heading to the bench.
Head coach Frank Yallop and the rest of the Galaxy bench congratulated him.
The game attracted an announced crowd of 17,223 in the 27,000-capacity stadium.
His troublesome left ankle was immediately wrapped in ice as he watched the rest of the game.
David Beckham has scored his long-awaited first goal for LA Galaxy after being included in the starting line-up for the first time since moving to America
-----------
The 32-year-old England midfielder lined up for a free-kick in the 28th minute of the game ...
------------
...curling the ball in his trademark style over the BC United wall to score inside the left post
------------
After weeks on the bench due to a nagging ankle injury, his return to form sent the crowd into a frenzy ...
-------------
... and his LA Galaxy team-mates joined in the excitement, running across more than half the field to join the celebration
-------------
Brooklyn Beckham, watching his dad from a box seat, leapt up as the ball soared into the back of the net ...
---------------
... while Victoria Beckham (seated) applauded her husband's performance
--------------
Beckham, the most expensive signing in US football history, acknowledged the cheering crowd as he left the pitch
dailymail.co.uk
David Beckham scores first LA Galaxy goal
By Megan Levy and agencies
16/08/2007
Daily Mail
LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2-0 DC UNITED
David Beckham has scored his long-awaited first goal for LA Galaxy after being included in the starting line-up for the first time since moving to America.
The 32-year-old England midfielder curled a free-kick into the net 28 minutes into the match, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
A nagging ankle injury has plagued Beckham
Fans cheered and women screamed as Beckham, named captain for the match, prepared to take the 26-yard free kick in the first half.
After scoring inside the left post, he was mobbed by team-mates, who ran across more than half the field to join the celebration.
All eyes have been on Beckham since he made his long-awaited, insanely hyped debut with the LA team last month.
But a nagging ankle injury has confined him mostly to the bench, to the disappointment of fans and Beckham himself.
As the most expensive signing in US soccer history, he had played just 37 minutes in two previous games.
Wearing his number 23 shirt, Beckham was greeted with a roar from the crowd at the Home Depot Centre in Carson, California, as he took to the pitch against DC United in the SuperLiga semi-final.
He was the last Galaxy player to take the field for pre-game warm-ups, but quickly fell in with his team-mates, jogging, stretching and kicking balls.
Later in the game he assisted fellow midfielder Landon Donovan to score a second goal, catapulting LA Galaxy to a 2-0 win.
Beckham also received a yellow card in the 18th minute for a foul on United's Jaime Moreno.
He played a total of 63 minutes before being replaced by substitute Peter Vagenas.
As Beckham left the pitch, he clapped his hands above his head while turning in a circle to acknowledge the cheers before putting the captain's armband on Donovan and heading to the bench.
Head coach Frank Yallop and the rest of the Galaxy bench congratulated him.
The game attracted an announced crowd of 17,223 in the 27,000-capacity stadium.
His troublesome left ankle was immediately wrapped in ice as he watched the rest of the game.
David Beckham has scored his long-awaited first goal for LA Galaxy after being included in the starting line-up for the first time since moving to America
-----------
The 32-year-old England midfielder lined up for a free-kick in the 28th minute of the game ...
------------
...curling the ball in his trademark style over the BC United wall to score inside the left post
------------
After weeks on the bench due to a nagging ankle injury, his return to form sent the crowd into a frenzy ...
-------------
... and his LA Galaxy team-mates joined in the excitement, running across more than half the field to join the celebration
-------------
Brooklyn Beckham, watching his dad from a box seat, leapt up as the ball soared into the back of the net ...
---------------
... while Victoria Beckham (seated) applauded her husband's performance
--------------
Beckham, the most expensive signing in US football history, acknowledged the cheering crowd as he left the pitch
dailymail.co.uk