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Beckham records two assists in loss to Red Bulls

Aug 19, 2007 - 3:57 AM By Ian Parker Special to PA SportsTicker

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- David Beckham delivered exactly what over 65,000 fans came to see but still was upstaged in New York.

Teenager Jozy Altidore stole much of the show as the Red Bulls scored a dramatic late goal to top the Los Angeles Galaxy, 5-4, on Saturday.

Beckham had two assists inside the first 10 minutes, setting up Carlos Pavon both times as the Galaxy canceled out Juan Pablo Angel's early goal to take the lead.

But the 17-year-old Altidore then helped set up Clint Mathis before scoring twice himself to put New York in the clear before Landon Donovan responded.

The game appeared headed for a tie until Mathis struck a long-range shot which goalkeeper Joe Cannon could only parry, and Angel popped up to finish from a tight angle.

The opening stages belonged to Beckham.

All too aware of the threat posed by superstar, Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena had spoken about a need to limit the Galaxy's set-piece opportunities going into the game. His players did not listen.

Two Beckham set-pieces led to two Galaxy goals in the space of five minutes.

The first came in the sixth minute, when Beckham whipped a corner directly onto the head of Pavon, who placed it in the far corner of the net.

The same pair linked up again two minutes later, with Beckham's deep free-kick looping over a crowd of players and finding Pavon all alone at the far post. Goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus got a hand on the ball but could not stop it.

The Red Bulls defense had no answer to Beckham. Alan Gordon should have made it three when Beckham picked him out with yet another trademark free-kick, but instead shot straight at Waterreus.

Beckham was involved in everything and came up limping after a crunching challenge in the fifth minute. Another rough tackle moments later from Dave Van den Bergh led to a scuffle, but Beckham played on without treatment.

A crowd of 66,237 watched on as the class of England midfielder stood out a mile. A long ball sent Donovan clear, but he wasted the chance, shooting wide after rounding Waterreus.

The night started badly for the Galaxy as Angel gave the Red Bulls the lead in only the fourth minute.

The Colombian scored with a fine free-kick, totally fooling the defensive wall. As it jumped, he stroked the ball underneath to find the bottom corner of the net.

Altidore had won the free-kick by beating Ty Harden for pace. The teenager was clearly out to impress the crowd and his pace was a constant threat to the Galaxy.

In the 44th minute, he broke clear of the defense to latch onto a cross from Van den Bergh but headed straight at Cannon.

A minute later, he inspired the Red Bulls' equalizer. Faced with three defenders inside the area, he wriggled his way through to shoot from a tight angle. The ball was deflected but bounced up to Mathis, who fired home an unstoppable volley.

It was Mathis' 45th career goal for the Red Bulls in all competitions, setting a new franchise record as he eclipsed Geovanni Savarese's mark.

Altidore then got himself among the goals just four minutes into the second half. Mathis' through ball picked out his run, and the teenager slotted the ball under Cannon to put New York back in front.

Altidore added his second - and New York's fourth - in the 70th minute, when he cut inside from the left wing to beat two defenders and score from 18 yards out.

There was an instant reply from the Galaxy as Donovan raced down field to beat Waterreus from a tight angle just a minute later.

Beckham had two chances from free-kicks in the closing stages but hit the wall both times.

He went back to supplying rather than finishing, and had instant success. His 82nd-minute corner was headed against the post by Kyle Veris, with the ball falling for Edson Buddle to poke home.

Just when it all appeared over, Angel's dramatic winner gave New York all three points.