D.C. United escaped their Aug. 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Galaxy without any damage from David Beckham, but the same did not hold true on Wednesday.
Beckham did little in his 18 minutes against United in the nation's capital a week ago but killed off D.C.'s chances of reaching the SuperLiga final on Wednesday as he scored a goal and set up another in the Galaxy's 2-0 win at The Home Depot Center.
Beckham scored his first-ever Galaxy goal on a free kick in the 27th minute and set up Landon Donovan two minutes into the second half.
United, who finished the group stage with a 1-1-1 mark, had won its previous two league games entering Wednesday's match. Despite a hard-charging attack, United was held scoreless, and allowed two goals to a Galaxy team that hadn't scored in three league games since completing SuperLiga group play.
United created an early opportunity first. Just three minutes in, Jaime Moreno danced through a crowd in the box and found Luciano Emilio on the right side of the penalty area. Emilio, though, could not find the handle on the ball and Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon forced Emilio to float a harmless ball over the goal.
Moreno nearly caught Cannon napping in the 11th minute. From some 50 yards out, Moreno turned and fired a shot at the goal. Cannon retreated and had to jump to push the ball over the crossbar from almost on the goal line.
Josh Gros forced Cannon to make another diving save. In the 17th minute, Gros rifled a shot from the left side of the penalty area. Cannon left his feet and parried the ball away.
Eventually, though, United committed an unforgivable mistake as Devon McTavish was whistled for a handball 25 yards out. Galaxy supporters cheered heartily in anticipation of the ensuing Beckham free kick, and the former England captain did not disappoint the Galaxy faithful. Beckham ripped a free kick over the wall and into the left-hand corner of the net past a helpless Troy Perkins, who was left frozen on his line.
United avoided giving away a set piece against the Galaxy with Beckham on the field a week ago but did not have the same fate on Wednesday.
The goal seemed to deflate United's attack and spark life into the Galaxy's backline. Spaces grew tighter and scoring chances were nearly nonexistent for the rest of the half. The only United opportunity came in the 31st minute when Galaxy defender Ty Harden flattened Jaime Moreno 20 yards out. Unlike his English counterpart, though, the Bolivian international hit the wall with his shot.
United was destined to have some momentum in the second half. Reigning MLS MVP Christian Gomez replaced defender Greg Vanney at halftime and Gomez was set to serve as catalyst for United's attack.
Instead, it was Beckham who did not let that ship leave the harbor. From just outside the center circle, Beckham slipped a through ball to Donovan on the other side of the field. Gros twisted and turned as the ball went past his legs but could not stop the ball from reaching Donovan. The U.S. international sprinted toward the penalty area with nobody between him and Perkins. As he stepped into the box, Donovan slipped a shot that took a slight deflection off a retreating Devon McTavish past a sprawling Perkins to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
United tried to respond. Four minutes later, Emilio pounced on a loose ball some 10 yards out and ripped a shot on goal. But Cannon stood firm and parried the ball over the end line.
The Galaxy won another set piece in the 58th minute. Beckham's shot, though, did not have as much on it as his earlier one as Perkins dived to his right and plucked it off the goal line.
Beckham came off the field in the 63rd minute but the Galaxy maintained its dominance regardless. D.C. had few scoring chances in the final part of the match as United players were not tidy in front of the goal and the Galaxy defended in numbers.
It was the third time the Galaxy have defeated United in international competitions, also defeating them twice in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. LA will now take on Mexico's CF Pachuca in the Aug. 29 SuperLiga final at The Home Depot Center.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
