bex : start, assist, goal

In his third game for the L.A. Galaxy, this game billed as his First Start in America, David Beckham played 60m of generally non descript soccer against D.C. United in SuperLiga play- except for the goal on a free kick from 25 yards out. It was good to see him play real minutes in a game- he has played only 15 or so minutes in two previous games. That lack of playing time really showed against D.C. Although his passes were generally on target, they never seemed dangerous from my vantage point on the T.V. He looked strained attempting to connect with his teamates. However, this is completely due to his layoff.

There was the one act of brilliance. When Bex is lining up for a free kick, one should watch- it may go awary, but it could be a curling good-guy curling away from a flat footed goalie. Nice goal. He had a later assist on a Landon Donavan semi breakaway. However, bex's pass forward to donovan was mispalyed by a defender whom played the ball and not the man. But he did hustle and was one the ground many times in collisions with D.C. players. Good start.

It was an important win for L.A. as well. American soccer teams, like most soccer teams around the world, are in several concurrent competitions. L.A., for example, are currently in the MLS and hope to qualify for the MLS playoffs. However, they need to finish in the top eight and are nowhere close as I write. They have already been eliminated in the U.S. Open Cup*, a competition that is open to all soccer teams in America. This cup competition is a fixture in countries across the world, but American readers may well liked it to the NCAA basketball tournement for soccer: giants and minnows, strange matchups, upsets, etc... L.A. did not qualify for the Champions League, a competition they once won in which the champions of various leagues in the area play each other ina knock out competition. So- badly in the league, out of the cup, and not involved in the Champions league- but they STILL have a chnace @ glory- the SuperLiga.

The SuperLiga is the product of Mexican Soccer going again to that holy cash cow of wealth, the U.S.A., to stage games featuring Mexican teams. The SuperLiga features four top Mexican and four top MLS teams. Last nite L.A. played D.C. in the semifinals and won 2-0, so although L.A. is having a pretty miserable season in the league, they may still look to Bex'x first season as a trohpy winner season.

As big a deal is being made about Beckham in other cities- 35- 50k crowds in New England, New York and D.C. for his showing, the stands last nite in L.A. were pretty empty. MLS camera men have been instructed to mininmize the showing of empty seats in the football stadiums the league has been playing in for years, but the pregame show showed lots of nothing. The stadium seemed somewhat filled in later shots, but there was no overflow. And Mexican television is still making a big deal- the SuperLiga commercials hyping the game kept stating in Spanish that "Beckham is slated to play a whole half". Funny, but I guess they payed lots for the rites so, may as well sell it.
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*=and the Chicago Fire beat the Galaxy last year for the 2006 cup.