First Half
On a sunny day in Hong Kong, both teams did little to create chances in the first half. Galaxy manager Ruud Gullit started three rookies, Ely Allen, Michael Gavin, and Sean Franklin, and pushed Beckham up into a three-man frontline. HKU, made up mainly of players from Hong Kong club South China, attacked through their massive Brazilian striker Detinho.
It was the former Leixões forward, who has 16 goals in 10 league appearances for South China this season, finally opened the scoring in the 45th minute. His countryman Itaparica found space on the right side and sent a cross to the back post, where Detinho had time to settle the ball and toe-poke it under goalkeeper Steve Cronin.
Second Half
After the break, the Galaxy seemed to have renewed impulse to get forward. In the 62nd minute, Alan Gordon equalized within 30 seconds of subbing on. Playing in his new withdrawn forward position, Gordon made an angled run behind the defense, collected a slick throughball from Gavin, and calmly side-footed a shot past HKU keeper Zhang Chunhui.
Beckham, who went the full 90, nearly created a winner for Allen. His probing cross from the right side was swatted away by Zhang just before Allen could get his head to it.
With seconds to play, L.A. defender Troy Roberts mangled an attempt to cut off a cross from the left side and was whistled for a handball by the referee. It was the right call, and HKU captain Li Haiqiang, who is nicknamed “the Beckham of Hong Kong,” hammered home the 90th minute spotkick.
Three minutes into added time, Allen beat his defender down the left side and cut into the area, where he was taken down, setting up Beckham’s equalizing PK.
In the shootout, the Galaxy fell 5-4 after Greg Vanney missed with his shot. It was a better performance than their 1-for-5 tally a week ago against FC Seoul. In that match, Beckham was the only Galaxy player to score his shot. He did it again this time, and afterward the game shrugged off the final result.
“That's just football,” he said. “Some days you score loads of goals, some days you can have many chances and not score any.”
Beck’s 100th Cap
Beckham, looking for his 100th cap for England, was encouraged by England manager Fabio Capello’s recent comments regarding his international future. Capello said Beckham would get his 100th cap eventually, possibly even in the March 26 friendly with France.
"At the moment, I'm just concentrating on playing with the Galaxy,” he said. “I'm training with the Galaxy and playing in the games that I've got with the team here. That's how and where I got my fitness."
Capello or his assistant is expected to attend the Galaxy’s March 14 friendly at FC Dallas, a charity match to benefit the FC Dallas Foundation.
The Galaxy open their MLS regular season on March 29 at the Colorado Rapids.
