Beckham's Galaxy beats Victory on penalties

David Beckham celebrated what could be his final match for LA Galaxy with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Melbourne Victory in an exhibition game last night.

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David Beckham celebrated what could be his final match for LA Galaxy with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Australia's Melbourne Victory in an exhibition game on Tuesday.

The former England captain, 36, is about to come out of contract with the Major League Soccer champions and is believed to be weighing up a huge offer to play for French club Paris St Germain, or to stay in the United States.

The former Manchester United superstar said this week he is unlikely to decide on his future until early in the New Year.

Beckham had his every move cheered by the 34,000 crowd until he was substituted three minutes from the end.

For the football aficionados, the English superstar turned back the clock.


Beckham's audacious lob from inside his own half on 13 minutes, which just missed, was reminiscent of the 1996 goal for Manchester United against Wimbledon from similar range that launched him to stardom.

Former Tottenham and Liverpool striker Robbie Keane converted a brace of penalties in the 40th and 50th minutes, but Galaxy still needed a shootout after full time to beat Victory.

Galaxy had fallen behind 2-0 after 37 minutes thanks to goals from Costa Rican Carlos Hernandez and Isaka Cernak.

But when the MLS champions were awarded a penalty for handball just before halftime, Keane converted to make it 2-1 at the break.

The visitors lifted markedly in the second half with Keane's second penalty -- awarded after Beckham was body-checked in the box by Victory defender Petar Franjic -- squaring things up.

The match was locked at 2-2 after the regulation 90 minutes before Galaxy fought back from missing the first penalty in the shootout when US international Landon Donovan's attempt crashed off the bar.

LA Galaxy finished their Asian tour unbeaten after beating the Indonesia All Stars 1-0 in Jakarta and the Philippines national team 6-1 in Manila last weekend.





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Source: AAP


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