Beckham Celebrates LA Galaxy MLS Cup Win
Beckham celebrates LA Galaxy’s win over the Houston Dynamo for the MLS Cup in what could have been his last game in the MLS.
In damp conditions on a soggy pitch that must have reminded David Beckham of his days playing for Manchester United, Landon Donovan chipped the ball into the net to seal a deserved win for LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup.
The goal came late on in the match during the 71st minute. David Beckhams header was flicked on by that other LA big name, Robbie Keane, to the 3rd big name Landon Donovan. He deftly chipped the ball into the corner of the net.
La Galaxy had dominated for most of the game with Houston offering little in the way of attack and goal attempts.
The absence of their playmaker Brad Davis was evident from the start and was a major problem for them. No one was able to step up and fill his shoes.
LA Galaxy also had the advantage of playing at home and the 1-0 win means that they were unbeaten at home all season.
The title is the 3rd in LA Galaxy history after they won in 2002 and 2005. They have also lost in the title decider 4 times including 2009.
Talking Soccer: Donovan Scores for MLS Cup
The win means alot to David Beckham who has had some serious flak directed his way during his 5 year spell at LA Galaxy. Questions over his commitment have especially hurt the player.
Now with an MLS Cup gained in his last season under his current contract he must feel that he has achieved on the field what he came here todo.
Talking afterwards he mentioned his doubters, that it is always nice to prove them wrong.
Talking Soccer: Beckham Interviewed Post Game
Talking Soccer: What Did Beckham Achieve for MLS Soccer?
With many people questioning the David Beckham experiment and whether it was worth his large salary, it is interesting to see if he has done what he set out todo and change the way the MLS is perceived.
As a brand builder there is no one better than David Beckham. He is known in every corner of the world and even has a statue in a Buddhist monastery.
It would be fair to say that pre-Beckham, hardly anyone even knew the MLS even existed outside the US, and plenty who didn’t inside the US too.
Now, 5 years later, the LA Galaxy are known worldwide and can be seen as a small but global player.
Although Beckham is at the end of his contract he will still take part in the Galaxy PR tour that is now a feature of every major world club to bolster support across lucrative markets.
Media coverage has also changed, MLS now commands attention across the sports channels rather than being ignored. And next season there is the big one, a $55 million deal with Time Warner to broadcast matches on their cable network.
There are also 23 other designated players who followed Beckham into the MLS, including his team mate Robbie Keane. Would they have come if Beckham hadn’t first blazed the trail?
I don’t think Beckham knows himself where he will be next season, his family are settled and he loves the LA lifestyle…
But he has offers from other clubs, he is determined to play in the British Olympic team, would love to make his last move a big one back to a big European league and he has now done what he set out todo, win an MLS title.
So the odds are looking stacked against a longer stay in LA.
Let us know your views in the comments below. What do you think of David Beckhams time in the MLS?
Photo: NathanF
It looks like David Beckham is likely to stay in LA now from the noises coming from all the pundits talking soccer on the news.