David Beckham LA Galaxy Goal Vs. Wellington Phoenix New Zealand
This is how you take a PENALTY Becks draws record crowd - Sportal David Beckham came, saw action for the full 90 minutes and helped his LA Galaxy side conquer Wellington Phoenix 4-1 as Saturday night fever hit Westpac Stadium. Beckham, capped 99 times for England, had an influential match. He
made two goals and scored from the penalty spot in the 77th minute as Galaxy completed its two-match tour that also included a 5-3 loss to A-League club Sydney FC on Tuesday. "I was surprised. I'm not the penalty taker but (striker) Landon (Donovan) told me to have it and I was happy to," said Beck
ham. "That's one of the biggest parts of my game, striking the ball, so I was pleased with that." The match was played before a record football crowd for any match in New Zealand of 31,853. It bettered by more than 300 the international between New Zealand and Kuwait at Auckland in 1981. It was p
layed at a considerably lesser tempo than the A-League match between Phoenix and Adelaide United the previous night, but remained a willing contest. The home side struck first when in the seventh minute Phoenix midfielder Michael Ferrante forced Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon to parry a shot away. F
rom the resulting corner, delivered by Felipe, the ball travelled to Phoenix captain Ross Aloisi who rifled the ball into the net from close range. Beckham instigated the equaliser for Galaxy in the 17th minute when his right hand cross found Donovan inside Phoenix's penalty area. Donovan's attempt
ed shot was blocked by goalkeeper Mark Paston but Clint Mathis was on hand to steer the ball home. Galaxy's Cannon was twice forced into action midway through the half, first to deny a goalbound shot from striker Shane Smeltz and a shot from midfielder Felipe. However, Galaxy went into halftime 2-1
ahead when Donovan shot low and hard past Paston into the goalkeeper's right corner after Edson Buddle's shot from in front of goal was only partially blocked by two Phoenix defenders. Beckham turned provider again in the 48th minute when, following a jinking midfield run, he passed wide to Donova
n who crossed to Mathis at the far post. Mathis' shot across the face of the goal beyond Paston was tapped in by Carlos Pavon. Phoenix continued to press, with Royce Brownlie having the best opportunities in the 68th and 72nd minutes, but both attempts failed to trouble Cannon. Beckham had the cam
era flashlights going and the crowd roaring when his spot kick in the 77th minute was clinically dispatched high and to Paston's left after Phoenix defender Steven Old had earlier committed the foul. SBS The World Game 1 December 2007

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