Video: Beckham scores!
Despite making his first MLS start, David Beckham captained the L.A. Galaxy to a 2-0 win in their SuperLiga clash with D.C. United. Number 23 helped his side’s cause with a goal in the 27th minute. The shot heard ’round the world was a Beckham classic: a bending free kick from about 25 yards out:
I have to say, the wall looked a little weak but maybe that’s how all walls look when Beckham scores. Nevertheless, it was a beautifully taken shot. Here are a couple amateur videos of the moment:
Later, Beckham would assist Landon Donovan on the Galaxy’s second goal in the 47th minute:
A note: Donovan assumed the captaincy when Beckham was subbed out in the 63rd minute.
9 comments
It was embarrassing how amateur Beckham made the DC United keeper look on that free kick.
Beckham did play very well, and I can’t stand him at all. Can’t deny the quality of his free kicks and passing though.
Josh-
It’s a moot point if the wall was good or not. The keeper lined them up to his right giving Beckham the left. The keeper stayed middle and he was absolutely frozen with the quality and pace of the ball to his right side. Beckham went up and over the wall. Looked like he faked to the right and went to his left. There wasn’t anything the wall or the keeper could have done.
It is a moot point since the ball hit the net. My qualifier–that all walls must look like that when he scores–coincides with your point that there was nothing that could be done to stop it.
Of course, I’ve played a total of 6 minutes of defense in my entire life, so what do I know?
BQ –
I have to disagree with you on the keeper’s positioning. The keeper lined himself up well left of center (when facing towards the goal). When Beckham starts running up to kick the ball, the keeper starts moving toward the center. His momentum took him the opposite direction of the ball and thus was rooted in the center of the goal.
I guess I don’t really know a lot about goalkeeping, but I thought his positioning was horrible on that free kick. If there are any goal-keeping coaches out there who can back me up on that, I’d appreciate knowing I’m not totally insane.
The keeper positioned himself much better on the 2nd Beckham free kick later in the game and was able to make a good save.
I’m not a particular Beckham fan, but that left me saying “Jeepers, Wally!”
Mark,
I’m not a goalkeeping coach, just an aged goalie who has made plenty of mistakes over the years. I would agree that Perkins’ positioning was poor when the shot was taken, but I’m not sure that means he would have saved it even if he had been positioned correctly. The shot was well taken and Perkins is not the tallest of keepers – he only lost face by not being in a position to fling himself wildly into the air only for his hand to miss the ball.
And why all the Beckham hating? He’s just another overpaid athlete – there are plenty of those around.
Oh, and although I’m not a goalkeeping coach and I do agree with you on Perkins poor but inconsequential positioning on this particular play, you are, actually, totally insane.
Okay, I just watched the goal from a different angle and I retract my statement (not about your mental assessment but about Perkins potential ability to save the shot). If he hadn’t been moving/leaning in the wrong direction when the shot was taken he might have been able to get a hand to it.
BTW, Troy Perkins: MLS goalkeeper of the year in 2006. But, as I’m sure you would agree, it’s a league full of amateurs so….
Whereas Mark’s MRSL player pass for 2007 was incorrectly labeled as *amateur* and not *professional*.
(1) I haven’t watched many free kicks before, if any, so I think it’s a testament to Beckham’s talent that when I watched that I thought, “Gosh, that looks easy enough.”
(2) I’m amazed by the talk about the goalkeeper’s strategy. Is there any position truly comparable in sports? Has a keeper even been known to pee himself in a situation like that?
(3) I loved when they cut to Victoria, who saw herself on camera, quit playing with her hair, and then politely clapped for her hubby.
i am one of your greatest fans. i play from school team as well as club team.my no.is also 7&23.give me tips how to have short hair like when you haid in 2006 world cup please.
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