Real Salt Lake: Beckham makes RSL bend
25,500 watch Beckham tie RSL after two-goal lead
For those cheering on RSL, seeing the home side settle for a 2-2 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy after scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes had to be a disappointment. For those clamoring to see David Beckham, it may have been the best money ever spent. The 33-year-old midfielder scored not one, but two world-class goals to rally the Galaxy to a road tie.
Naturally, RSL coach Jason Kreis departed Rice-Eccles Stadium upset.
"I thought it was a fantastic crowd and I thought we disappointed the crowd," he said. "I thought we should have and could have done better in that match to thank them for coming to support us because they were fantastic."
Even though RSL remains unbeaten at home after the draw, it has only prevailed in one of those three matches and now owns a 1-3-2 record on the season compared to the Galaxy's 2-2-2 mark.
The match couldn't have started any better for Real Salt Lake as it executed the game plan to perfection in the opening 20 minutes. It wanted pressure the Galaxy from the opening whistle and try and capitalize with a goal. It paid off early as Fabian Espindola scored in the sixth minute and Kenny Deuchar tacked on another goal in the 18th minute, both on assists from Javier Morales.
Beckham scored twice in the final 10 minutes of the half to level the game at 2-2, the first in the run of play in the 36th minute and the second on a vintage Beckham free kick in the 40th minute.
"We've got to be more ruthless," said Deuchar. "When we've got teams with their backs against the wall, we've got to go for the jugular really and finish them off. We let them back in it. We can't afford to do that, especially with players the quality of David Beckham."
Each of Beckham's goals could've and perhaps should've been avoided.
In the sequence just before his first goal, rookie Tony Beltran-making his first MLS start-made a poor decision not to simply clear the ball. His decision led to a giveaway: two passes later from Landon Donovan and Alan Gordon, an unmarked Beckham was sitting with the ball at his feet just outside the penalty area. Like a magician, he lined up his shot and curled it inside the far post.
Beckham's equalizing goal in the 40th minute should've never been allowed according to the referee's original call. Dema Kovalenko was whistled for a dangerous play on the foul that led to Beckham's free kick, an indirect free kick foul. That's what the referee signaled initially, but that's not how it played out as Beckham treated it like a direct free kick and buried the 28-yard blast.
Recent comments
It shouldn't have been 2-2 because LA's free kick should...
Good game..bad ref. | May 6, 2008 at 4:31 p.m.
Wingert hasn't had a lot of brilliant offensive plays, but has...
Re: my take | May 6, 2008 at 11:03 a.m.
the DR. and Espindola up front. AMazing duo! Beckerman's new...
Anonymous | May 5, 2008 at 6:17 p.m.
