Beckham makes presence felt

2008-04-20 13:45

Los Angeles - Landon Donovan took full advantage of precise passes from team-mate David Beckham to score a brace of second-half goals on Saturday in the Los Angeles Galaxy's 2-2 draw with Houston in a Major League Soccer contest.

Thanks to the Beckham-Donovan combination, the Galaxy were able to overcome two one-goal deficits and emerge with the draw.

Los Angeles trailed 2-1 late in the game when Beckham fired a crisp cross to a sliding Donovan, who fired into the open side of the goal in the 84th minute. It was Donovan's fifth goal of the young season.

Donovan had knotted the score at 1-1 in the 67th minute with a diving header off a perfect cross from Beckham, the England midfielder who arrived in the States to great fanfare last year.

Hindered by injury last season, Beckham is now playing his first full campaign for the Galaxy.

Brad Davis and Franco Caraccio both scored for the Dynamo, the two-time defending MLS Cup winners who have now notched three straight draws but are the only MLS team yet to post a win this season.

Davis scored his first goal of the season in the 36th minute after striking.

After Donovan equalize, Caraccio gave Houston a 2-1 lead with his second goal of the season. Caraccio knocked in a rebound after Brian Ching's attempt hit the crossbar.

Edson Buddle nearly gave the Galaxy the victory in the closing moments, but Houston's Patrick Ianni headed the ball off the line.

- AFP