86'
Beckham red-carded in Galaxy loss
Aug 16, 2009 - 7:22 AM CARSON, Calif.(AP) -- David Beckham was ejected for a studs-up challenge in the 17th minute, and the Los Angeles Galaxy finished with nine men in a 2-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday night.Beckham slid into Sounders midfielder Peter Vagenas trying to reach a ball, hooking his right ankle and bringing the former Galaxy midfielder down to the pitch. Referee Ricardo Salazar immediately issued the red card, and Beckham did not offer much of an argument before leaving the field.
"Pete's one of my best friends," he said after the game. "I've never gone into one tackle wanting to hurt someone. It was a hard tackle but by no means a red card."
It was Beckham's first red card in his MLS career and his second ejection in the MLS. The red card carries an automatic suspension that will force Beckham to miss Los Angeles' match at Chicago on Wednesday night.
"With the way he came in hard, I could see how the referee would determine it likely was a dangerous tackle," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. "When you throw yourself into that kind of tackle, there's a chance you're going to get sent off."
Seattle (8-5-8), which snapped a three-match winless streak, needed only five minutes to convert following Beckham's exit. Steve Zakuani scored in the 22nd minute on a 5-yard shot off Brad Evans' cross from the right side of the penalty area, ending a 336-minute scoreless streak for the Sounders.
Evans began the play by intercepting Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter's header and dribbling unmarked down the flank.
Fredy Montero added his 10th goal in the 54th minute. Nate Jaqua headed Vagenas' corner kick to Montero, who fired a 6-yard shot into the upper-right corner of the net.
Sounders FC finished with 10 men after Tyrone Marshall received his second yellow card in the 78th minute. Salazar then ejected Los Angeles' Eddie Lewis on a straight red card in the same minute, leaving the Galaxy with nine players.
Landon Donovan, diagnosed with the H1N1 virus Thursday, entered the game at the start of the second half for the Galaxy (7-4-10), who had their six-match unbeaten streak stopped.
"(Arena) asked me how I was feeling and I said I thought I could play 45 minutes," Donovan said. "In hindsight, I wish I had started the game because I think I had a lot of energy."
Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller made three saves for his seventh shutout.
Fans overwhelmingly cheered Beckham when he was introduced in the starting lineup. One homemade banner behind the south goal read, "Welcome Back Beckham."
The L.A. Riot Squad, the group of fans that displayed anti-Beckham banners when the Galaxy played A.C. Milan on July 19, unveiled none and did not boo Beckham as a unit.
---=
Story from: STATS LLC, http://www.stats.com
- MLS UPDATE
SEATTLE 2
LOS ANGELES 0 FINAL
Aug 16 1:00 AM - MLS UPDATE
SEATTLE 2
LOS ANGELES 0 0:00 LEFT, 2ND HALF
Aug 16 12:55 AM - MLS UPDATE
SEATTLE 2
LOS ANGELES 0
SEATTLE GOAL: Fredy Montero in the 55th minute
Sounders 2, Galaxy 0 55'Aug 16 12:20 AM - MLS UPDATE
SEATTLE 1
LOS ANGELES 0 HALFTIME
Aug 15 11:55 PM - MLS UPDATE
SEATTLE 1
LOS ANGELES 0
SEATTLE GOAL: Steve Zakuani in the 22nd minute
Sounders 1, Galaxy 0 22'Aug 15 11:30 PM
Related News
- See you on the other side Aug 19
- OL Reign return to NWSL regular season play with 1-0 loss at Kansas City Current Aug 18
- Realio’s midseason review: Strong start gives way to flagging performances Aug 18
- Cristian Roldan is fit, but still might not play Aug 18
- OL Reign vs. KC Current: Gamethread and updates Aug 18
- Major Link Soccer: So long and thanks for all the fish Aug 18
- Garth Lagerwey: ‘Shame on us if we don’t take this opportunity’ Aug 17
- Match preview: OL Reign v. KC Current Aug 17
- Three questions with Dirty South Soccer Aug 17
- Major Link Soccer: Vlatko Andonovski to resign from the USWNT Aug 17
- Sounders GM: ‘This team is set to do something special down the stretch’ Aug 16
- Sounders add three new owners Aug 16