Galaxy shine in Beckham's MLS return

Club puts forth best effort of season in 3-1 win in New York

Landon Donovan (left), David Beckham and LA showed great spirit vs. New York. (McGrath/Getty)

Alecko Eskandarian, Landon Donovan and Eddie Lewis each scored first-half goals for the Galaxy and the visitors never looked back, conceding only a 87th-minute penalty kick from Red Bulls captain Juan Pablo Angel. The win was LA's fourth in a row.

It didn't take long for the Galaxy to grab the lead. Less than three minutes in, recently acquired forward Alecko Eskandarian pounced on some non-existent Red Bulls defending by drilling a searing left-footed half-volley past goalkeeper Danny Cepero from 22 yards.

It was the New Jersey native's third of the season and second for Los Angeles since arriving via trade from Chivas USA on July 1.

Following the opener, the Red Bulls scrambled to answer. But a short stretch of sustained pressure didn't create a legitimate scoring chance -- not surprising considering New York came into the match averaging less than a goal per game, the worst scoring offense in MLS this season.

Beckham remained quiet until the 26th minute when Los Angeles was awarded a pair of free kicks from his preferred right side, about 40 and 50 yards from goal.

Despite a healthy chorus of boos and a backdrop of flashbulbs, nothing came of either; Beckham's first was blocked by the wall, the second, a give-and-go-with Donovan, was gathered in easily by Cepero.

But minutes later, following a cleared Beckham corner kick, Donovan hit his own bomb -- a full volley from about 25 yards -- and again Cepero was beaten to the upper right corner, doubling the visitors' advantage.

The Galaxy kept trying their luck from long range. First, Eskandarian lined up another laser from the left side that went just over the crossbar. Then it was Edson Buddle's turn, but Cepero was in position to control the head-high 30-yard effort.

The home team had its best opportunity to pull one back five minutes before halftime. Seth Stammler hit a screamer from 35 yards that was acrobatically saved by Ricketts, who allowed a big rebound but recovered in time to snuff Jorge Rojas' low drive too.

If New York's late pressure gave them a glimmer of hope, however, it was erased on the stroke of halftime when Donovan's cross from the right found an unmarked Eddie Lewis on the other side of the area. Lewis had time to pick out his corner on -- what else? -- a volley, and the Galaxy headed into the locker room with a seemingly insurmountable lead.

Not surprisingly, the scoreline took much of the air out of what had been a relatively entertaining match. Los Angeles was content to defend and counter in the second half as the Red Bulls tried to build from the back. The strategy was sound enough: Buddle found himself put through on Cepero in the 69th minute, only to be robbed by the Bulls' second-year backstop.

Still, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena was so sure his side had done enough to secure three points that he took off Beckham with 20 minutes left in favor of Trinidad and Tobago international Chris Birchall, who made his MLS debut. Eskandarian then came off four minutes later.

New York finally got on the board three minutes from time when Angel was awarded the penalty kick when Omar Gonzalez was ruled to have handled the ball on a cross.

Unfathomably, the Red Bulls actually had a chance to pull within one when referee Shane Moody again pointed to the spot in the 90th minute, again citing Gonzalez when a shot came off his arm. This time, however, Angel sent his attempt to Ricketts' right side and was stoned by the big Jamaican with a little help from the post.

With the win, Los Angeles improves to 6-3-9 with 27 points, even with Chivas USA in the Western Conference. The club returns to The Home Depot Center this Sunday for a friendly with European power AC Milan, Beckham's most recent club. The Galaxy's next league game is July 25 at Kansas City.

The Red Bulls, who have a league-low 10 points from their 20 games this season, return to league play on July 25 when they head to Commerce City, Colo. to take on the Colorado Rapids.

Doug McIntrye is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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