Beckham shines in Utah
2008-05-04 10:23
Salt Lake City, Utah - David Beckham scored two first-half goals to deliver a 2-2 draw for the Los Angeles Galaxy against Real Salt Lake in a Major League Soccer contest on Saturday.
With Los Angeles trailing by two goals early in the first half, Beckham took advantage of a couple of defensive lapses and posted his first two-goal outing since arriving in the North American football league.
The English superstar scored twice in the space of four minutes, his free kick in the 40th minute making it 2-2.
Fabian Espindola in the sixth minute and Kenny Deuchar in the 17th had given Real the early lead.
Beckham halved the deficit in the 36th minute when he accepted a pass from Landon Donovan and fired from 20 yards for his second goal of the season.
In the 40th he curved a free kick past Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
Andy Williams almost gave Real the lead four minutes into the second half, but his low effort in front of the net bounced off goalkeeper Steve Cronin's leg and popped up high.
Los Angeles had two chances 10 minutes later. Rimando blocked Greg Vanney's shot, but the ball rebounded right to Alan Gordon, whose header went wide left.
In the 73rd, Beckham sailed a long cross to an open Donovan, who missed from point-blank range.