Beckham snags goal

SYDNEY – David Beckham scored off one of his signature free-kicks and received a yellow card as under-prepared LA Galaxy were hammered 5-3 by Sydney FC in their exhibition match yesterday.

The world’s most recognised footballer produced one of his fabled “bend it like Beckham” free-kicks nearing half-time to give his US club some joy after being over-run by the fitter Sydney players in the opening half. The sell-out 80 295 crowd was hushed when Beckham was upended in a tackle mid-way through the opening half and gingerly limped about for a few minutes before recovering to score.Sydney midfielder Brendon Santalab slipped as he tried to chase down Beckham, knocking over the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star just after he had kicked the ball.”I always try to stay on the field whether I’m injured or get kicked in games, it’s part of the game,” said Beckham, who lasted the whole game.”I’m quite a stubborn person so when I want to play and when I want to stay on there are not many people who can bring me off and convince me to come off.”The first time I heard about the 55 minutes I was contracted to play here was yesterday, but I wanted to stay on for the whole game, there were so many fans and they expect you to perform and be out there for as much as possible.”Beckham was in the wars again early in the second half when he resented a body check from substitute Robert Middleby and came after him angrily pointing his finger.He got his revenge mid-way through the half when he scythed Middleby down in a tackle but both players broke into smiles and embraced each other as the former England skipper was shown the yellow card.Nampa-AFPThe sell-out 80 295 crowd was hushed when Beckham was upended in a tackle mid-way through the opening half and gingerly limped about for a few minutes before recovering to score.Sydney midfielder Brendon Santalab slipped as he tried to chase down Beckham, knocking over the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star just after he had kicked the ball.”I always try to stay on the field whether I’m injured or get kicked in games, it’s part of the game,” said Beckham, who lasted the whole game.”I’m quite a stubborn person so when I want to play and when I want to stay on there are not many people who can bring me off and convince me to come off.”The first time I heard about the 55 minutes I was contracted to play here was yesterday, but I wanted to stay on for the whole game, there were so many fans and they expect you to perform and be out there for as much as possible.”Beckham was in the wars again early in the second half when he resented a body check from substitute Robert Middleby and came after him angrily pointing his finger.He got his revenge mid-way through the half when he scythed Middleby down in a tackle but both players broke into smiles and embraced each other as the former England skipper was shown the yellow card.Nampa-AFP