Los Angeles Galaxy captain David Beckham was pleased with the resolve his Major League Soccer side showed in battling back to a 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls Saturday.
Landon Donovan salvaged a point for the Galaxy at Giants Stadium, his cross in injury time floating over the heads of numerous players, including Galaxy teammate Edson Buddle's, and into the far corner of the goal.
“It was a cross, of course,” Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit said. “But he kicked it so well, if Edson had touched it, it would have gone in as well.
“So the keeper didn't know what to do. Just the quality of the play itself made it difficult for the goalkeeper,” Gullit said.
Until then the Red Bulls appeared poised to steal the show from superstar Beckham and the Galaxy. The hosts had taken a 2-1 lead on a superb second-half goal from captain Juan Pablo Angel gave the home side a 2-1 lead.
Beckham was pleased his team fought until the end, and were rewarded with the draw.
“There were chances for both teams but we showed a lot of character,” Beckham said. “We were disappointed to go in 1-1 at halftime because they scored through our sloppy play.
“Then we came out second half, they got a goal but we kept on battling and we didn't look as if we were going to get a goal but we did in the end.
“It showed the character in the team, especially when we're not playing as well as we can, to come back. So overall, maybe a draw was fair tonight.”
The match drew a MLS season-high 46,754 fans.
After Donovan's equalizer, the Galaxy nearly stole the victory when Beckham sent in a cross from the right that found Donovan – whose left-foot shot hit the Red Bulls upright.
