Galaxy can't top Gamba Osaka at PPC

Beckham involved in exchange of words as Galaxy fall, 1-0

PPChampionship.net

David Beckham couldn't guide the Galaxy past Gamba Osaka and into the Pan-Pacific Championship final. (AP)

HONOLULU - Gamba Osaka booked their place in the final of the Pan-Pacific Championship with a 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Aloha Stadium on Wednesday night.

A goal in the third minute from Brazilian striker Bare was the only score of the game and gave the J.League side the distinction of winning the tournament's first ever match.

Bare sprinted past the Galaxy defense and fired a left-foot shot past goalkeeper Steve Cronin.

David Beckham played the entire 90 minutes for the Galaxy, which was playing its first preseason match of 2008.

Beckham was involved in an exchange of words with Gamba Osaka's Lucas in the second half, following a strong tackle from the Brazilian.

"We expected a tough game from the Galaxy and we got one," said Bare afterwards. "We gave them a lot of respect and we are pleased we were able to qualify for the final."

Ely Allen and Edson Buddle had chances to equalize in the second half but goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya held firm for the Japanese team.

Gamba Osaka will face the Houston Dynamo in the Pan-Pacific Championship final on Saturday. The Galaxy will face Sydney FC in the third place playoff.

Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit was able to take some positives from the performance, despite his side's defeat.

"I think we played an excellent game," said Gullit. "It took us a bit of time to adjust but after 20 minutes we started to play well. We made some mistakes but it is valuable to spend this kind of time with the players."

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Gamba Osaka
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii

Scoring Summary:
GAM -- Bare 3

Los Angeles Galaxy: 1-Steve Cronin (31-Josh Wicks 46), 3-Greg Vanney (24-Julian Valentin 46), 7-Chris Klein (28-Sean Franklin 46), 12-Troy Roberts, 29-Michael Gavin, 15-Alvaro (32-Brandon McDonald 46), 19-Josh Tudela, 23-David Beckham, 22-Kelly Gray (27-Bryan Jordan 67), 14-Edson Buddle, 26-Ely Allen. Substitute not used: 11-Israel Sesay
GOAL ATTEMPTS: 6; SAVES 9; FOULS 10; CORNERS 1; OFFSIDE 2

Gamba Osaka: 22-Yosuke Fujigaya, 3-Mineiro, 2-Sota Nakazawa, 5-Satoshi Yamaguchi, 10-Takahiro Futugawa, 16-Hayato Sasaki (6-Yohei Fukumoto 75), 17-Tomokazu Myozin, 20-Shu Kurata (23-Takuya Takei 83), 18-Bare, 9-Lucas, 30-Masato Yamazaki. Substitutes not used: 1-Naoki Matsuyo, 19-Takumi Shimohara, 28-Ryujiro Ueda, 24-Kenta Hoshihara, 25-Hideya Okamoto
GOAL ATTEMPTS: 18; SAVES 2; FOULS 6; CORNERS 6; OFFSIDE 4

Misconduct Summary
GAM -- Mineiro (caution) 5

Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Referee's Assistants: Fabio Tovar, Frank Anderson
Fourth official: Brian Hall