David Beckham made his first run-on start of the Major League Soccer season for the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Friday.
Dane Richards and Juan Pablo Angel scored as the Red Bulls moved into a share of first-place with Columbus in the Eastern Conference.
Richards gave New York a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute. Joel Lindpere’s 11-yard line drive ricocheted off the left post to Richards, who converted from 7 yards.
Angel scored his 13th goal of the season in the 60th minute on a penalty after Galaxy defender Yohance Marshall tripped Richards from behind in the penalty area.
Beckham, who played the entire game, had his best chance to score in the 66th minute from a free kick. But goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul jumped in front of the left post to punch the ball away.
Beckham had played twice in the past two weeks as a substitute since tearing his left Achilles’ tendon while with AC Milan in March.
“It’s good to get 90,” Beckham said. “There were some stages where I felt tired but we had a few players put up with injuries so I had to stay out there.”
Galaxy coach Bruce Arena praised Beckham’s commitment.
“In a perfect world, he should not have played that long,” Arena said. “But he showed tremendous character and quality in the final 20 minutes when, by all rights, he should not have been out there.”
