Wellington - David Beckham and his LA Galaxy outclassed an
Oceania All Stars team 3-0 in an exhibition game in Auckland on
Saturday night.
Beckham starred with a brilliant display of football in the first
45 minutes when all the goals were scored, and his side held on in a
scrappy second half despite playing the last 19 minutes with 10 men
after midfielder Josh Tudela was sent off on his second yellow card.
Although Beckham failed to match the popularity from his last
visit to New Zealand a year ago, when he drew the biggest crowd ever
to watch a football match in the rugby-mad country.
The former England captain was given a huge ovation when he left
the field with 10 minutes left.
Beckham and the Galaxy attracted nearly 32,000 spectators to a
match in Wellington in December last year, but only 16,600 turned out
a fine night at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium after organisers
offered two tickets for the price of one to boost slow sales.
'We all enjoyed it,' Beckham said after the game, before stripping
off his shirt and giving it to a young schoolgirl in the crowd as he
left the field.
Former French star Christian Karembeu, who retired from full-time
football in 2005 after a career in which he played 53 times for
France and won the 1998 World Cup, was part of the Oceania All Stars.
'We were very pleased and honoured to play against Becks and the
Galaxy,' he said.
Beckham did not score though he took some of his famous curling
free kicks and precision-placed corners. The Galaxy's goals came from
former Dortmund striker Jovan Kirovski, Alan Gordon and midfielder
Brandon McDonald.
Beckham, who will join AC Milan on loan in January during the
Galaxy's off season, leaves New Zealand with his teammates on Sunday.
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