Galaxy lose tour opener
SEOUL, South Korea (Ticker) - David Beckham was powerless to prevent the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Asian tour from getting off to a losing start at the hands of South Korean side FC Seoul.
After finishing regulation with the score tied, Seoul went onto claim a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy in a shootout on Saturday.
Beckham was the only Galaxy player to convert in the shootout, firing his spot kick into the roof of the net as Seoul goalkeeper Kim Ho-jun saved the other four attempts by Los Angeles.
Beckham played the full 90 minutes and the midfielder was in the thick of the action of a surprisingly physical match, creating the opening goal for the MLS outfit.
Playing in front of just 34,000 fans in the 65,000-capacity Seoul World Cup Stadium, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder was in action early in the game, momentarily squaring up to Lee Chung-yong after the young Seoul winger caught him with a late tackle.
Beckham’s passing skills were on display after 12 minutes when a delightful ball sent Carlos Ruiz free only for the striker to balloon his shot high and wide.
The former England captain created the opening goal of the contest after 20 minutes when he chipped a free-kick into Seoul’s penalty area for Alan Gordon to control on his chest and volley into the net.
After 31 minutes, however, the hosts were back on level terms when Jung Jo-gook converted a penalty shot.
The game slowed in the second half with Steve Cronin of the Galaxy the busier of the two goalkeepers.
“I think we played very well in the first half and we were a little bit tired in the second,” Beckham said. “We were disappointed to lose on penalties but penalties are like that - there has to be a winner and a loser.
“There is more about the team than my free-kicks and how many I can score. It is my part to assist and make as many chances as possible.”
Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit was encouraged by Beckham’s display.
“David played a good game and provided us with a lot of chances and one of them was converted,” Gullit said. “The other chances we had were not the easiest. The good thing is that we created chances and the players are there. It is a question of concentration.”
Los Angeles departs for Shanghai on Sunday morning for the next leg of their tour against Shanghai-Hong Kong United on March 5 before facing Hong Kong SACC in Hong Kong four days later.