Associated Press
CARSON, Calif. ó David Beckham scored his first goal in a Major League Soccer game and assisted on another to help the Los Angeles Galaxy win their home opener, 2-0 over the expansion San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday night.
Beckham took a pass from Landon Donovan at the top of the box in the ninth minute, and fired the ball into the back of the net.
Donovan, the Galaxyís biggest pre-Beckham star, added his own goal from virtually the same spot late in the first half, off an assist from Beckham.
The Galaxy beat their former coach Frank Yallop, whose Earthquakes returned to MLS after a two-year absence. The teamís previous incarnation became the Houston Dynamo.
Los Angeles was embarrassed in a 4-0 loss at Colorado in Saturdayís season opener.
That defeat, last yearís losing season and the waning novelty of Beckhamís presence gave Thursday nightís game an extra sense of early season urgency. The Galaxy brought in former Dutch World Cup star Ruud Gullit to succeed Yallop in an attempt to turn the pomp and press that Beckhamís arrival brought into wins.
It didnít take long for Gullit to see his first goal in Los Angeles.
Beckham took a perfect pass from Donovan on his left and scored on an 18-yarder from the right side with 8:16 expired.
Beckham had scored one previous goal for the Galaxy, on a free kick in a Superliga game against D.C. United on Aug. 15.
Donovanís goal, which came in the 37th minute from nearly the same spot, sailed into an empty net after goalkeeper Joe Cannon had charged forward.
San Jose had appeared to start the scoring with a goal in the third minute, but was called for offsides.
Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin kept the net empty after that for his first career shutout.
The Galaxy had several breakaway chances in the second half but failed to score again.