Beckham opens MLS account
England midfielder David Beckham scored his first goal in Major League Soccer play on Thursday and contributed to another as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0.
Beckham arrived in the MLS to great fanfare last season but played little due to injuries.
He had scored once before for the Galaxy, on a direct free kick last August 15 against MLS rivals DC United in the SuperLiga tournament featuring MLS and Mexican clubs.
Landon Donovan also scored for the Galaxy, as they spoiled the Earthquakes' return to the US league after a two-year absence.
Since then the San Jose franchise had been moved to Houston and rechristened the Dynamo, leaving the California city without a club until the creation of the new Quakes.
Galaxy stars Beckham and Donovan made sure San Jose's return to the league was not a winning one.
The English superstar collected a pass from Donovan outside the penalty area and slipped the ball past goalkeeper Joe Cannon to open the scoring in the eighth minute.
Beckham returned the favour for Donovan in the 37th minute, flicking the ball with his right foot to his hard-charging teammate.
Donovan lofted a shot over a rapidly-closing Cannon to put the Galaxy up 2-0.
"Obviously I always enjoy scoring. Usually I'm on the other end where I'm assisting," Beckham said. "Tonight was one of those nights where I scored. I'm happy, but I'm more happy with the team's performance."
The Galaxy notched their first victory under the guidance of new coach Ruud Gullit. They had been beaten 4-0 by the Colorado Rapids in their MLS season-opener on Saturday.
"In the first game, we were all over the place, from the back to the midfield to up front," Beckham said. "That's something that we've worked on the last two or three days. It showed tonight. It showed that we worked hard on it."
Beckham said he felt completely fit, a big change from last season when he arrived in the United States battling injury after a demanding Spanish League season.
"Last year, I was probably 50 per cent fit when I started," he said. "I was playing in games I shouldn't have been and it just sort of went downhill from there. I feel great after two games and my England game, so I'm ready to get on with it."
Beckham also noted that his arrival after the MLS season had begun last year also hindered his ability to contribute, as did the hoopla that surrounded his arrival.
"It's important from my part and the team's that (I'm) here from the beginning," Beckham said. "Last year, there was a lot of distractions and I think I suffered from that - and also the team.
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