Beckham scores first goal of season for Galaxy

Former England captain David Beckham scored his first goal in over a year to help lift the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 2-1 win over Chivas USA.

Los Angeles on Sunday led 1-0 when Beckham scored in the 39th minute on a 26-yard free kick into the upper-right corner of the net. It was Beckham’s first goal of the season and his first since September 9, 2009, against Toronto.

“I knew as soon as I hit it, it was in,” Beckham said. “Even though they’ve got a very good ‘keeper, I think he expected me to put the ball over the other side, so he was cheating to the right.”

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena was relieved to see the highest-paid player in the league finally score.

“Where Beckham hit that spot to the goalkeeper’s left is the spot to put that ball,” Arena said. “The goalkeeper was definitely not able to see the ball there. We said on the bench, ‘If he beats the goalkeeper to the left, it’s going to be a goal.”‘

Beckham was making just his second start and fourth appearance of the season after missing six months because of a torn left Achilles’ tendon. He left the game in the 64th minute to be replaced by Eddie Lewis.

“My fitness is good and my confidence is good,” Beckham said. “We’ve got another game on Thursday, which is one of the reasons I came off.”