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Beckham makes 1st start for Galaxy

Sep 25, 2010 - 6:13 AM CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- David Beckham made his first start of the season for the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Friday night.

Dane Richards and Juan Pablo Angel scored as the Red Bulls (13-8-5) moved into a first-place tie with Columbus in the Eastern Conference with the win over Los Angeles (15-6-5).

"We needed to win here to make it," said Angel, whose team secured a playoff spot with the victory.

"It's a massive win for us on the road," Red Bulls coach Hans Backe said. "It was one of the better performances so far from this team."

Richards gave New York a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute. Joel Lindpere's 11-yard line drive ricocheted off the left post to Richards, who converted from 7 yards.

"After the first three or four minutes, we controlled the game," Backe said. "Our buildup was excellent. L.A. had a huge problem defending when we built up from the back and pushed the fullbacks up."

Angel scored his 13th goal of the season in the 60th minute on a penalty kick after Galaxy defender Yohance Marshall tripped Richards from behind in the penalty area.

Angel trails Los Angeles' Edson Buddle by one goal in the race for the goal-scoring championship.

Beckham, who played the entire game, had his best chance to score in the 66th minute on a 32-yard free kick. But goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul jumped in front of the left post to punch the ball away. Coundoul finished with three saves for his ninth shutout.

Beckham had played twice in the past two weeks as a substitute since tearing his left Achilles' tendon while with AC Milan in March.

"It's good to get 90," Beckham said. "There were some stages where I felt tired but we had a few players put up with injuries so I had to stay out there."

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena praised Beckham's commitment.

"In a perfect world, he should not have played that long," Arena said. "But he showed tremendous character and quality in the final 20 minutes when, by all rights, he should not have been out there."

Thierry Henry did not make the trip because of a sprained right knee.

Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez also missed the game with a suspension for accumulating too many yellow cards.