Beckham makes frustrating US league debut

By Tony Czuczka Aug 10, 2007, 4:38 GMT

LA Galaxy\'s David Beckham during the second half of the LA Galaxy\'s game against D.C. United at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., USA 09 August 2007. Beckham has not been fully fit since injuring his left ankle 6 June while playing for England in a European Championship qualifier. He aggravated it June 17 in his final game for Spanish club Real Madrid. EPA/SHAWN THEW

Washington - David Beckham made his long-awaited Major League Soccer debut Thursday, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for 10-man Los Angeles Galaxy in front of a screaming sellout crowd at Washington club DC United.

But the English superstar, who has been sidelined with a left ankle injury, failed to turn around his struggling team's 1-0 loss on what clearly was a frustrating night. Minutes earlier, a Galaxy teammate was sent off the rain-slicked pitch for a rough tackle.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder said he was happy to be back in the game but disappointed with losing, though he voiced confidence about his fitness. Suffered while playing for England, the nagging ankle 'felt a lot better tonight than it's felt for some time,' he told a television interviewer.

Beckham had made a token appearance last month as a substitute in an exhibition game against Chelsea. Thursday was his first competitive game.

Beckham, 32, saw his first MLS free kick headed over the crossbar by a Galaxy teammate. In the 87th minute, he served US international Landon Donovan with a classy up-the-field pass that DC keeper Troy Perkins foiled with a robust challenge at the edge of the area.

After another squandered Galaxy chance, Beckham raked his hands across his shaved head in frustration.

The nearly 47,000 fans at Washington's Robert F Kennedy Stadium were happy enough to see Beckham play, rewarding each of his first few touches with a roar.

They followed his every move as he warmed up and broke into rock concert-style screams when he reappeared from the locker room after halftime.

The only goal of the match came from another import from European football, Brazilian Luciano Emilio, a veteran of Germany's Bundesliga, who delivered a powerful, 13th-minute strike for DC United.

With about 20 minutes left, Beckham stripped out of a warmup pullover and put on the number-23 Galaxy jersey, raising a huge cheer from a crowd that seemed more interested in the world-famous visitor than the home side. After the final whistle, he cracked a wry smile and saluted the fans as he walked off the pitch.

Beckham left Madrid for a five-year deal that could earn him up to 250 million dollars, with US soccer officials hoping he will boost the 'beautiful game' in the land of basketball, baseball and American gridiron football.

The Galaxy under Coach Frank Yallop have won just three of their 13 league games this season are mired in next-to-last place in the MLS western division. Beckham said after the game that hard work lay ahead.

'I was happy to be back on the field, but I'm disappointed with losing,' he said.

'(DC United) got a goal and stuck in there. We had a couple of chances at the end, and we are disappointed. It's a process we have to get right, and we will because we've got a lot of talent in this team. We have to get on the pitch and prove it to people.'