Vancouver Nips Beckham, LA Galaxy

VANCOUVER 2, LOS ANGELES 1 --------------------

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) - David Beckham gave the crowd a treat, but he couldn't deliver a victory for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Vancouver Whitecaps posted a 2-1 victory over Beckham and the Galaxy in a friendly on Tuesday night.

The match was played in front of 37,104 fans at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, with most coming to catch a glimpse of Beckham in action. He set up the lone Galaxy goal late in the first half but the Whitecaps controlled play for much of the contest. Beckham helped the Galaxy tie the game, 1-1, in the 43rd minute. He fired a long cross into the top of the box for Alan Gordon, who beat charging Whitecaps goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic to the ball and headed it into the open goal.

Whitecaps forward Nicholas Adderly and Eduardo Sebrango both tallied for Vancouver. In the fourth minute, the Whitecaps took an early lead with a goal from Adderly, who beat Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Wicks with a low shot inside his right post. The Whitecaps took a 2-1 lead in the 66th minute on a beautiful strike from Sebrango, who fired a blast past Wicks at the left post. Midfielder Justin Moose picked up a loose ball and found forward Nick Webb up the right wing. Webb dribbled in behind the Galaxy defense and played a low cross just above the six-yard box for Sebrango to drill home.

The Galaxy put on the pressure in the closing minutes, but were not able to beat Wicks, who made a string of saves to preserve the victory. Beckham, who nearly added a goal of his own on a 30-yard free kick that just missed the near post, came out in the 75th minute to a nice ovation from the crowd. The Galaxy were without MLS scoring leader Landon Donovan, who had a strained calf and did not make the trip.