Beckham scores goal, Galaxy get past Wizards

David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle all scored in the second half to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night.

The victory put the Galaxy (4-3-2) into first place in the Western Conference by two points over Colorado, which lost Saturday. The Wizards (3-4-2) extended their winless streak to four games.

Donovan forced a 1-1 tie in the 54th minute by scoring his league-leading ninth goal on a penalty kick. Then, in the 74th minute, Donovan freed Buddle with a pass into the penalty area, and Buddle converted from 10 yards.

"Landon Donovan played excellent in the second half," Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit said. "That was the key factor. We needed that from him."

The Wizards had a chance to tie the score in the 81st minute, but Chris Klein cleared Scott Sealy's shot away from an open net.

"When Landon and Buddle were running at us, I think the game opened up for them," Wizards midfielder Sacha Victorine said. "We never got control of the ball back."

Beckham ended the scoring in second-half stoppage time with a 70-yard shot into an empty net for his fourth goal.

Claudio Lopez, a veteran of two World Cups for Argentina, gave the Wizards a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute. Lopez intercepted a loose ball, faked a shot to get past the Galaxy's Brandon McDonald, dribbled for 3 yards and fired a 19-yard shot inside the right post.

"The first two minutes were ridiculous," Gullit said. "We looked nervous and we were giving the ball away. Sometimes, we forget what we need to do."

Klein set a league record by making his 94th consecutive start, breaking the mark held by Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

Carlos Ruiz made his first appearance for the Galaxy since March 29 when he entered the game in the 84th minute. Ruiz underwent knee surgery April 2 after being tackled from behind by Colorado's Ciaran O'Brien in the season opener.

(taken from : here)