Galaxy 2-0 DC United (and Beckham’s First Goal!)

By: Laurie | August 15th, 2007

Oh my Lord! Who were these guys and what did they do to my team? It’s almost enough to make you believe in alien abduction. Or was it just a good, solid dose of that Beckham magic?

Attacking play! Guys fighting for (and winning) the ball! Passes that actually went to players in the same color jerseys! Back passes only when they made sense! And…oh…let’s see, I know I remember the word…. It’s on the tip of my tongue… Ummm… Oh, yeah! GOALS!

Two goals, to be exact. Yes, two. Count ‘em, TWO unanswered goals!! Including Beckham’s first in MLS, from an absolutely glorious free kick. (And did anybody else find it humorous how the guys are already strategically managing to make those fouls happen in scoring postion? Nicely done, boys.) Beckham’s leadership on the field is nothing short of amazing. Assuming this is a sign of things to come, well worth $6.5 million.

The second goal was trademark, classic Landon Donovan. I’m thinking that Landon is a) happy to have Beckham playing and b) ~~not so happy to be stripped of his captaincy and~~* wanting to prove himself. A GOOD thing. I haven’t seen Landon play this well in awhile.

Actually, I thought everybody played well. Mike Randolph particularly impressed me. When I saw that he was playing left back (with Jazic out due to cards), I was worried that he’d be the weak link DC would exploit repeatedly. It didn’t work out that way. He was solid. Actually, the entire back line looked good. I like Chris Klein so much better as rightback than in the midfield.

Joe Cannon earned his paycheck again with several great saves. For these we will forgive the fact that he never seems to hit a Galaxy player with the long balls. Love you anyway, Joe!

I’m quite certain this all happened because I was at the game.

And let’s just hope and pray that playing well over a half won’t set Beckham back another month.

(Although for me, being at this game would almost make it worth it.)

*Check out this post for the true story on the Beckham-Landon captaincy issue.

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

Category: 2007 Games, Player News, SuperLiga, Team News

« Yes, Becks Will Play Tonight | Home | Landon Donovan is a Classy Guy »

Diane

I LOVE that one mag, those two were SO sweet together!!! Perfect.
mag

Diane

I would choose his best pass-the once against Zaragosa in second leg of Copa,when Ronaldo scored (3-0)
Diane

Mag, thanks for the treat! Alot of those Real Madrid assists were in Beckham's first season there, while he was still playing center mid for them.
It also included one that I think I sent Laurie awhile ago -- the famous fifty yard pass to Zidane's left foot which he scored on with one touch...in the posts match interviews Zidane said it was the best pass he's ever scored from (joking about it hitting his left instead of right foot ;-) ), and Beckham said it was the best goal anyone's ever made from one of his passes. Cute Boys!!!
Sarah UK

Still watching the replays from overhere in blighty! Wicked goals by Becks and Donovan....I am so happy for LA Galaxy - you're gonna win the Superliga. I wish I was there.

Look after him won't you - he'll never never ever let you down - ever!

Congratulations L.A. Galaxy!
Jeff Bull

Just one thing: congrats on getting to see your guys win, Laurie. You've been patient.
Greybush

I left a comment in another post about Becks playing as a gesture to the fans (and media). Well, we were rewarded with a awesome free kick & assist.

Man, that guy seriously brings heart & inspiration, something the Galaxy really needed. Thanks, Goldenballs. Last night was a reminder why I love the Galaxy and stick with them through thick and thin.
greenarrow1134

After arriving at the stadium and seeing how it wasn't a sell out. Me and bud were saying that the Beckham hype must be running out, but after that goal I think its back on. A Friend of mine was at a Dodger game and said that they showed the goal on the big screen and the whole stadium cheered.
Nice Blog, just found it Thanks!.
Nathanhj

Lucas,

When Mike Randolph plays, which is rarely, he plays left back or left midfield. I like his tenacity, but his passes are often errant and his ball control needs work, diminishing his ability to get into the attack on an overlap...
Nathanhj

Oh. My. God.

Who are you and what have you done with the Galaxy?

That was a fun game. I'm not going to quibble about the facts that United mostly controlled the tempo and the ball, showed superior positioning, better passing, and had more shots. Not going to quibble at all because this was a Galaxy team I've been waiting to see play an entire game. Everything Laurie said holds true for me.

I still think they are going to miss the playoffs and that they will struggle to score goals on the road, but this, this makes up for things like the Columbus home loss.

And I love the fact that I was there in person to see Beckham score his first goal for a US side. (Does it count as an MLS goal, if it was SuperLiga play? I don't think so.)
Lucas

Mike Randolph played left back for us here in Portland last year and was almost always awesome and a real fan favorite, a bright spot in an otherwise abyssmal year. Where has he been lining up for Galaxy?
Doug

Laurie, we need you at every game. Do you have enough frequent flier miles? Maybe you can travel in the team's chartered jet? I think you're the key component. Yallop needs to know right away.
Kenny

Holy crap! What a game! Laurie, so you finally made it out here. Looks like you chose the right game to go to.
Diane

Fun!!! As new MLS viewer, I couldn't believe those were the same two teams I saw Thursday nigh. I'm hooked.
- What possibly impressed me the most was what happened after Beckham left the field -- the team never lagged, it was clear that once they recalled how to play and play as a team they didn't forget (old fans--please tell me that can hold up), Yallop's substitutions were even well thought out, getting Cobi in in time to watch for every danger, and then the final set of fresh legs also well timed.
- Beckham as described, energy/attitude, pace-setting, field smarts, great free kick -- yes, cleverly placed foul drawing throughout. The nice part is that his passing was at about 50% of peak accuracy and frequency, part rustiness and part only one practice with those on other end...not implying that anyone can play at peak all the time, just that there's more fun to come -- if ankle survived. How often Galaxy players were in (or close enough to) the right place without that practice with a new supplier is another big nod to them.
- The armband drove me crazy with curiosity as I can't follow swiftly spoken Spanish enough to understand the commentators on it -- incredibly gracious and generous of Donovan! Was it a gift for the start debut, or ongoing plan?
Also, Laurie, can you homeschool your kids on the road and follow the Galaxy from now on? As mag said, thanks for bringing home the win--and BOY are you lucky that you resisted that urge to publish your cell phone number on the site!!!
Dave Martinez

When Becks has the ball, the field for LA magically calms, and your players are all in position. He is a general.

And that goal. Wow. And that assist. Wow.

I can already see his influence working on Donovan (particularly after Beckham exited, and he was sending low incoming passes to Pavon and others)
Lane

Good win for the Galaxy.

As for the captaincy - it was Donovan's idea to give the armband to Becks. Superlative move by him, IMO. Shows he's not driven by ego at all. Places the team above himself.
mag

Pennoyer

forger about goals,check this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
that's why I think playing him in the midle is a waste of player.
mag

Great,you are back with a victory!!!
Nice classic Beckham's ball from the most dangerous place,teams should know from now that it's stupid to give him such oportunetis and not to foul players there.
Great great Landon's move,what a strike.
Saw just highlights (still looking for the torrent link) and people say that the team was united wich is in my opinion the most important thing in our corrent MLS position.
P.S. Didn't get it...how did David become a captain,very strange to see someone being a captain after 20 on the pitch with a team. If Donovan was so bad,give it to Xavier at least.
Richard

Glad to see the patient American crowds have finally witnessed a proper dose of "Beckham Magic"! Hope there's a lot more to come

By the way, and I hope this is allowed, here's something I found on YouTube that may make Becks fans smile. They're clean, I promise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

ENJOY!
Dean Maynard

Well done Becks...If Becks starts Galaxy will win.

Dean"Midas"Maynard
Chris

Oy! Games like this drive me nuts, because it shows a tease of what this team could really produce the rest of the year. Whether or not they do so remains to be seen.

Becks proved he should wear the C on the sleeve after that performance tonight. He absolutely orchestrated he game from the center mid position. We saw tonight what we had predicted for so long: someone to feed quality balls to the front-runners. Hopefully we'll see a lot more of that in the coming weeks. Donovan did well to finish that one off. Can't believe Martino missed that one late in the match!

Defense did well. Cannon definitely kept us in the game. Overall, a solid effort from the side. My only question mark: Pavon, where ARE you?
Pennoyer

I was so impressed by Beckham's trademark free kick tonight. I kept on viewing the video highlight from Galaxy homepage over and over again. Keep it up LA Galaxy!!
CentralCoaster

The only thing between us and the first ever SuperLiga Championship is the team that Sports Illustrated considers the #9 club team in the World, Pachuca http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c...

We've been them before with some luck. It will take more this time. Of course, with Becks in there and a packed house at the HDC, I'm sure we have a fighting chance. The fact that a few of their players will be suspended for cards will definitely help too.