Becks rolls back the years to rocket Galaxy into play-offs

Posted Tuesday, October 26, 2010 by Myfootballnews.co.uk

As a boy, David Beckham used to dream of winning Major League Soccer's coveted Supporters' Shield.

He would lie awake at night in Leytonstone and fantasise about wearing the famous white shirt of Los Angeles Galaxy and of ending his career on a high at the hallowed Home Depot Center.

At the age of 35, Beckham has finally made it to the pinnacle, scoring the equaliser in LA Galaxy's 2-1 win against FC Dallas to clinch his first trophy since he left Real Madrid, a provincial club managed by a promising coach called Fabio Capello.

Galaxy's triumph earned them the Supporters Shield as the top points-scoring team in the MLS, and as top seeds in the western conference they booked a two-legged play-off semi-final against Seattle Sounders.

It also means Beckham has now won the title, or its nearest equivalent, in three different countries with Manchester United, Real and now Galaxy.

Capello, now the England coach, was not in the States to witness Beckham hit the target with a crisp 20-yard shot, nor is he expected to draw many of his squad for next month's friendly against France from the California & District Sunday League.

Beckham, however, has not given up hope of adding to his 115 international caps, despite being told by Capello that he is "too old" to be part of the brave new England who held Montenegro to a goalless draw at Wembley earlier this month.

Galaxy manager Bruce Arena said Beckham's performance against Dallas was his best of the season. In truth, there were not many contenders since Becks only returned from a six-month lay-off with a ruptured Achilles tendon last month.

Battalions of California girls agreed with Arena's verdict, squealing with delight when Goldenballs cut his finger and was forced to change his blood-spattered shirt and shorts on the pitch.

Beckham bravely played on, taking his chance well after being set up by former Everton loanee Landon Donovan before on-loan Brazilian Juninho - no relation to the ex-Middlesbrough favourite - hit the winner.

If Galaxy beat Seattle, they will meet either Dallas or Real Salt Lake in the western conference final for the right to meet the eastern conference winners for the MLS Cup in Toronto on November 21.

Beckham said of Galaxy's famous win, which clinched their first Supporters' Shield since 2002: "Going 1-0 down and then bringing it back, it shows that the team has character.

"We need to be ready for this next game (against Seattle) because we know it's going to be a difficult game, but today was a good thing for us.

"I felt the last game was my best performance, but if Bruce says this one was my best then I'll take it. I'm just trying to get my match fitness back and the last couple of games have felt really good."

Galaxy lost the MLS Cup against Real Salt Lake on penalties in 2009.