From the start of this game, Galaxy looked comfortable taking on DC United away from home. After some positive LA pressure, it was a Beckham corner that provided the chance for Mike Magee to head home the first goal for the visitors. Beckham wears the captains armband tonight, something we have not seen since he showed a preference for AC Milan.United had a chance to draw level after a Dunivant badly-time tackle earned him a yellow card. The resulting free kick was lofted high towards the Galaxy goal mouth, but the shot was wayward - after 30 minutes Ricketts has hardly been tested in the Galaxy goal.
The game starts to get a little tetchy and tackles are flying in, Beckham gets himself another booking (fourth of the season) for a tackle that takes man and ball, although the 'man' in question helped by taking a dive suggestive of a sniper shot through the head in a bad movie. Minutes later, the cameras spot a lot of blood seeping through one of Beckhams' socks, but he continues to use both feet to good effect, and the first half closes out with The Galaxy holding on to their one-goal lead.
Beckham initially looks uncomfortable in the opening minutes of the second half, but soon settles into the rhythm in the more central role that he has occupied for the last few games.
On 52 mins, DC try to change things by bringing on an attacking substitute, 67 mins and Ricketts comes flying out to make a vital challenge outside the box, a rare scare for LA.
74 mins and The Galaxy bring on Cordozo for Lopez as DC line up for a corner - the corner is only just cleared off the line and LA continue to hold on to their narrow lead. For the first time in the match, DC are stringing passes together and starting to look like a threat.
With 10 minutes to go, David Beckham is substituted as LA peg DC back and have a few decent chances of their own. Quaranta, the DC captain leaves his foot in a challenge and is dismissed for a second booking. Despite the man-advantage of LA, DC continue to press and are rewarded with a penalty on 88 minutes. Substitute Charlie Davies steps up to score and level the game as Juan Pablo Angel is substituted for The Galaxy. Four minutes of extra time are added, and The Galaxy spurn a chance to go ahead shooting high over the bar from just a few yards. The game finishes, and the Galaxy players express their annoyance with the referee for awarding the penalty. Nonetheless, this is not a bad result for the first of three games on the road for the Galaxy, and you have to credit DC for their stamina to find an opening so close to the end of the game with only ten men on the pitch.
NEXT GAME: WEDNESDAY against FC TORONTO
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