Beckham, Galaxy too much for Union

CARSON, Calif. - Thirteen years after scoring his first international goal against the Philadelphia Union's goalkeeper, David Beckham foiled Faryd Mondragon again.

But this time, Beckham played a supporting role as Leonardo's header in the 33d minute off the Englishman's free kick gave the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-0 victory Saturday night in front of 24,998 at the Home Depot Center.

"We made one mistake, and the game went the other way," Union coach Peter Nowak said of the goal before criticizing his team's approach against the Galaxy.

"I think the level of energy by our side was not what I hoped," Nowak said. "We need to raise our level of intensity and physicality."

Beckham scored his first goal for England against Mondragon and Colombia during the 1998 World Cup in France on a 29-yard free kick. The game was Beckham's first start and first appearance in the World Cup.

Against the Union (2-1-0), Beckham's 36-yard free kick found Leonardo, whose eight-yard header glanced off the inside of the left post. Mondragon had no chance.

For Nowak, that goal proved to be the turning point.

"Before the first goal, I thought we felt too comfortable," Nowak said. "[Then] we tried to rush things. We tried to put the ball behind the defense. We need to be more patient. We need to be more smart with the ball."

Los Angeles (2-1-1) took control early. The Galaxy not only dominated possession but defused the Union's offense.

The Galaxy's defense denied any service to Carlos Ruiz, the focal point of the Union's attack while keeping Sebastien Le Toux and Danny Mwanga from seeing the ball, as well.

As a result, the Union did not manage a shot until the 50th minute. The Union finished with four shots, none on goal.

The visitors played with a one-man advantage after the Galaxy's Chris Birchall received a red card in the 53d minute. Yet Los Angeles maintained its lead.

The Union's best chance to tie came in the 80th minute. Ruiz executed a back-heel pass to Le Toux, who fired toward the left post. Jack McInerney tried to deflect the shot as it was traveling wide, but to no avail.

Before that play, the Union staged their biggest threat in the 47th minute.

Kyle Nakazawa chipped a ball ahead to Le Toux, tightly marked by two defenders. The Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez bumped Le Toux off the ball in the penalty area, and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts pounced on the loose ball.

McInerney received a red card in second-half stoppage time and will be suspended for the Union's next game, April 9 against New York in Harrison, N.J. Referee Paul Ward issued two red cards and eight cautions, four to the Union.

Union midfielder Justin Mapp, suffering from a strained left hamstring, did not make the trip. Keon Daniel, a member of Trinidad and Tobago's national team, made his debut for the Union by replacing Mwanga at halftime.

Ricketts, the league's goalkeeper of the year last season, and Gonzalez, a member of the MLS Best 11, made their season debuts for Los Angeles.

Ricketts and Gonzalez missed the first three games due to a strained right hamstring and a sprained right shoulder, respectively.