Second-half goals from Francisco Rodriguez and Omar Bravo gave the Mexican club the victory, with Landon Donovan grabbing a late consolation for the Galaxy.

Beckham was a surprise inclusion in the Galaxy squad, having been categorically ruled out with a nagging ankle injury on Friday by Galaxy coach Frank Yallop.

He had failed to train all week following a 78th-minute substitute's appearance for his Galaxy debut against Chelsea the previous Saturday.

He missed last Tuesday's SuperLiga opening victory against CF Pachuca, the Galaxy's first win in five games.

Yallop had even cast doubts as to the England star's availability for this Tuesday night's final SuperLiga group game in Texas against FC Dallas.

Yet Beckham was named as one of the Galaxy substitutes for the match against the Mexican club, whose fans greatly outnumbered the Major League Soccer club's at the Los Angeles Coliseum.