FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Landon Donovan scored, then jumped into David Beckham’s arms, and the Los Angeles Galaxy celebrated their fifth win in six games with a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday night.

The display of togetherness came barely two months after Donovan criticized Beckham’s leadership and commitment in a book about Beckham’s stint with the Galaxy.

Donovan scored in the 21st minute, when Alan Gordon’s shot ricocheted off Revolution defender Darius Barnes. Donovan volleyed a shot from about 20 yards on the right that curled just inside the far post and past goalkeeper Matt Reis.

Jovan Kirovski’s goal made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute, and Steve Ralston scored for the Revolution on a penalty kick in the 83rd.

The Galaxy improved to 5-0-1 in their last six games, while the Revolution lost for the first time in five games, going 2-1-2.

The crowd of 26,623 was more than twice New England’s average home attendance of 13,088.

But one fan who turned out for Beckham’s first MLS game at Foxborough hung a banner over the low wall at the side of the goal line that read: “WE’RE ONLY HERE FOR ALAN GORDON”.

Gordon, in his sixth season with the Galaxy, is the longest tenured player on the team and is tied for second on the club with three goals. He had a good opportunity in the 14th minute, but his short shot popped over the net.

Just seven minutes later, Donovan got his ninth goal. He kicked the ball out of the air with his left foot and, as it approached the net, Beckham, standing behind him, raised his arm as if anticipating a goal.

Then Donovan made his leap into Beckham’s welcoming arms.

It was Beckham’s third MLS game this season with the Galaxy – he also played two international exhibitions with them – since returning to the United States from a stint with AC Milan.

Beckham is in the third year of a five-year contract with Los Angeles and upset Galaxy fans with his wish to stay in Italy beyond March, when his loan to AC Milan was intended to end.

But MLS made a deal to keep him in Italy until the end of the Serie A season, where the level of play likely makes him a better candidate for a spot on England’s national team in next year’s World Cup.

Immediately after Saturday’s game, Beckham was scheduled to fly to England to train with the national team for an exhibition Wednesday night against Holland in Amsterdam.

Revolution coach Steve Nicol missed the game as part of an automatic one-game suspension for being ejected from a game Aug. 1. MLS added another one-game suspension to that on Saturday, to be served Aug. 20 when the Revolution play Seattle Sounders FC.

Copy the Story Link