Beckham misses out on debut
2007-08-06 08:20
Toronto - David Beckham missed his scheduled Major League Soccer debut because of a lingering ankle injury that kept him on the bench on Sunday during the Los Angeles Galaxy's 0-0 draw with Toronto FC.
Beckham wasn't among the starting 11 or seven substitutes for the game, played before a sell-out crowd of 20 522.
Instead the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star watched intently from the bench, dressed in a navy blue suit and red necktie.
"It's frustrating for David," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "He wants to get out there and play. He doesn't want to disappoint anybody."
Beckham sprained his left ankle while playing for England against Estonia in a European Championship qualifier on June 6, then hurt it again during Real Madrid's season finale June 17.
On Saturday, the 32-year-old midfielder said he cannot plant or turn without pain and is seven to 10 days from being able to start.
He appears likely to miss England's friendly against Germany on August 22, and the layoff could cause him to miss European Championship qualifiers against Israel on September 8 and Russia on September 12.
Since joining the Galaxy, Beckham has been limited to a 16-minute appearance on July 21 in a friendly against England's Chelsea.
Los Angeles are on an MLS trip that takes them to DC United on Thursday and the New England Revolution next Sunday. The Galaxy return home for a Superliga semi-final against DC United on August 15, then play an MLS match three days later at the New York Red Bulls.
Fans wearing England and Real Madrid jerseys with Beckham's name on the back dotted the stands at BMO Field, but they were drowned out by a partisan crowd who booed when Beckham was shown on the scoreboard. One fan wore a T-shirt that read "David Beckham is rubbish."
Luciano Emilio scored two goals at Foxborough, Massachusetts as DC United beat New England to snap the Revolution's five-match unbeaten streak.
Emilio moved into a tie for the MLS lead for goals with his 12th goal, matching Kansas City's Eddie Johnson.
United scored twice within a nine-minute span midway through the first half and then bolstered its lead when Emilio scored his second goal in the 76th minute.
Emilio scored his first in the 31st minute, taking a nice through ball from Guy-Roland Kpene, beating the defense and placing an eight-yard shot past keeper Matt Reis.
His second goal came after a quick exchange of passes with Ben Olsen.
United midfielder Josh Gros scored his first goal of the season in the 22nd minute, when he barged in on Reis after a free-kick by Clyde Simms and knocked the loose ball into the net.
- AP