It is the iconic picture that we have spent five years waiting for. David Beckham holding aloft the MLS Cup as his LA Galaxy finally won it all in what will probably be Beckham’s last game in Major League Soccer.
The Galaxy beat the Houston Dynamo 1-0 Sunday night thanks to a Landon Donovan goal. But it was not that close. The Dynamo were completely outplayed and on another night the Galaxy could have scored five or six. They dominated the game from the opening whistle with Beckham the best player on the park. What made Beckham’s performance last night even more remarkable is that he tore his hamstring in training on Tuesday. The Galaxy covered it up saying that Becks had the flu, but for to play as well as he did, on a heavy wet pitch, was a remarkable performance.
Fittingly it was the Galaxy’s three superstars that combined to set up Donovan’s winner. TBeckham headed the ball on to Keane, whose through ball sprung Donovan and he calmly lifted the ball past Houston’s Tally Hall and into the net.
The goal was vindication for Beckham who was terrific all playoffs picking up four assists in the four games. Finally the Galaxy (and MLS) fans saw a healthy David Beckham for the first time in five years and he delivered.
The goal continued the rehabilitation of Landon Donovan in many U.S. Soccer fans eyes. Prior to the World Cup last summer, Donovan was viewed as a player who never perform’s on the big stage. His goals in South Africa ended that perception for good and last night when the Galaxy needed as big goal it was Donovan who stepped up and scored it.
