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Thursday, 16 August 2007

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David Beckham scores his first LA Galaxy goal

He receives a standing ovation after scoring with free kick

David Beckham scored his first goal Wednesday as an L.A. Galaxy player.

Wearing his No. 23 shirt, the midfielder – starting in his first game for the Galaxy – scored on a free kick in the 27th minute. Galaxy went on to defeat D.C. United, 2-0, with Beckham assisting U.S. international Landon Donovan, Galaxy's usual captain, with the second goal.

"The free kick was the first I've taken for eight weeks, so it was quite pleasing," Beckham, 32, told the Associated Press afterward. "I felt I was going to score as soon as I had the ball in my hands."

Beckham played until the 63rd minute, and received a standing ovation as he exited the field. A Galaxy trainer immediately attended to his Beckham's left ankle, which has long plagued the star's American debut.

"I didn't expect to last an hour but it felt great after 10 minutes into the game," Beckham said. "My confidence got up with my ankle and I was happy to be out there for 60 minutes. Overall, the ankle was a lot better than I thought it was going to be and I felt confident going into tackles."

Beckham's first goal was on the Galaxy's Southern California turf: the Home Depot Center, where a crowd of some 17,220 watched. Wife Victoria Beckham and the couple's three sons were not seen in the stadium.

Last week, while on D.C. United home turf, Beckham also squeezed in some high-end sightseeing. The new American resident received a very secretive – and very private – tour of the White House last Thursday, reports The Washington Post's "Reliable Source" column. It is not known whether the Brit Beefcake met President Bush.

By Courtney Rubin