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08/16/2007: "Bend It Indeed!"

So that's what the fuss is all about.

Los Angelenos - at least those who cared - got a chance to see their newest millionaire athlete do his thing last night at the Home Depot Center. David Beckham - the Great White Hope sent by the Europeans to save the Colonies from American Football - had been limited to token appearances in a pair of games since he arrived in America last month. But with an ankle still on the mend - less than 80%, according to Becks himself - Beckham made his first start for his new team, the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, in the semi-finals of the SuperLiga tourney. Their opponent, fellow MLS squad DC United, had defeated a clearly inferior Galaxy team 1-nil only a week earlier. But even in his short time in that game, Beckham showed flashes of the style and experience that led the Galaxy to shell out $25 million.

Not only did Beckham start the game, but he was also wearing the captain's armband - at the insistence of its previous owner, Landon Donovan. Donovan's classy move showed that he understood fully that armband or not, Beckham would be the focus of the team. And Becks didn't disappoint. When a DC United foul led to a Galaxy penalty kick from 26 yards, all Beckham could do was smile. This was right in his wheelhouse, and truly his bread and butter. It didn't matter that he hadn't so much as practiced such a set piece in nearly two months - everyone in the stadium knew what was coming. Facing a line of cringing United defenders, Beckham gracefully booted the ball over their heads and watched as the backspin made it bite the air and change direction. Even the DC United goalie simply stood and stared as the ball angled down and sliced into the lower left corner of the net - goal scored, and history made.

The shot was probably best described by Donovan, an experienced international player:

"It was something special," Donovan said. "We all watch on TV, and think, 'They [Beckham's free kicks] can't be that good.' I turned around and thought, 'Holy Jesus! You've got to be kidding me. Unbelievable.'"

Early in the second half, Donovan became a beneficiary of the foot of Beckham, as he received a forwarding pass in stride, setting him up to score on a breakaway. That goal set the final score at Galaxy 2, DC United 0.

One man does not a revolution make, but even hurt it was clear Beckham is head and shoulders above the talent and, more important, experience of those he will face in MLS. Anyone playing the Galaxy will have to change their style, since a foul in your own end will lead to a near-automatic goal.

It should be fun to watch ...

UPDATE: Somehow, you just knew it'd end up on YouTube ...

And the keeper never moved. Like I said ... fun ... :-)

Replies: 1 Comment

On Friday, August 17th, is it really 'the beautiful game' ? said:

pretty neat
but I do hope the fact "Anyone playing the Galaxy will have to change their style, since a foul in your own end will lead to a near-automatic goal" won't lead to Galaxy having a 'professional diver' in their attack -- someone who runs aggresively and fast into the penalty area with the ball and then always seems to get tripped (or is very skilled making it look that way) by a careless tackle.
There are some European players who have got it down to a fine art - either the defenders don't dare tackle them when they get close or they get a penalty when they were NOT fouled.

Nothing beautiful about that