Beckham fires Galaxy into final

David Beckham scored a free kick and made another goal as he started an LA Galaxy match for the first time.

Beckham was made captain and led his new team-mates out for the Superliga semi-final against DC United.

He capped the occasion by scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win and laying on the second for Landon Donovan with a threaded pass.

Beckham said: "It was nice to get the early goal but tonight was not just about my goal and Landon's goal. I think it was a team performance that was exceptional, we worked hard as a team and played hard as a team and we won as a team.

"So tonight was more pleasing for the performance."

Beckham's goal was greeted with a shower of ticker tape and Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon ran half the length of the pitch to join in with the celebrations but Beckham was substituted after 63 minutes, proving he has not yet fully recovered from his ankle injury.

He added: "I've always said that everybody has to be patient. I had to let nature take its course with my ankle. It's an injury and there wasn't much I could do about that.

"I was happy to be out there with the team and happy to be playing again so we're very happy."

Galaxy will face the Mexican side Pachuca in the Superliga final on August 29, when Beckham could lift silverware as team captain for the first time in his career.

But he stressed that he is hoping to bring long-term success to the club.

He said: "We want to do the same again and again and again. It's a learning curve each game and that's how we want to take every game. I think it's important that we push on from here now.

"We've won tonight, we're in a final but it's more important now that we just play as a team and carry on winning."

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